Today is the day when
the Boys in Green, square off in their exhibition bout against a hardened and
tough to play Mexico National Team, as many call them El Tri.
This match schedule in
Met Life Stadium in New Jersey Meadowlands, despite it being just a friendly,
it has a lot of importance for both squads preparation for their upcoming World
Cup qualifiers.
As the Green Army
Boss Martin O’ Neill, this match will expose the Republic of Ireland resolve
and endurance, after their notable position in the table in their group of
play.
Very well for the man
from North Ireland will be ideal stage to see some new faces, despite not
having his Premiership contingent in total and saving these for their upcoming bout
against Uruguay in the colossus of Dublin, Aviva Stadium.
By playing a squad
that is has almost both of its feet in Russia, Mexico will show off its best
lineup and players ever, with former Manu striker Javier Hernandez, Carlos
Vela, Andres Guardado, Dos Santos and Jesus Corona to mention a few.
For O’ Neill eleven to counter a hardened Tri with Randolph; Christie (Browne 73), Keogh,
Duffy, Egan (Long 64), McClean; Horgan (Gleeson 73), Hourihane (O’Kane 64),
O’Dowda; Murphy (Hoolahan 64), McGoldrick.
By playing a 5-3-2
formation, Manager O’ Neill was expectant of making a case and a contest against
el Tri, showing off its first squad in this contest and sporting a 4-3-3
formation with three strikers up front.
With a Mexican National
currently situated well above the Boys in Green in FIFA overall rankings in 16,
the task looks difficult but not impossible for new faces making their debut in
the international stages.
As the tale of the tape
when these squads have fared up, El Tri comes ahead in their previous encounters,
Mexico defeated the Republic of Ireland in World Cup 1994 by a 2-1 win.
Very well, for Mexico
preparing themselves to close with a high note their qualifiers with wins over
Honduras and Team USA, for the Republic of Ireland, their next match against
Austria with these friendlies the Ireland Boys can take an important step.
Still the road to
Russia 2018 will be paved with a series of obstacles and all around challenges
for the Green Army and its Boss Martin O’ Neill, that he is aware of his squad
blink of an eye in the qualifiers, goodbye Russia.
In this match creativity
in its midfield was one positive shown by the Republic of Ireland, with Conor
Hourihane, Daryl Horgan and Callum O’ Dowda alongside Cyrus Christie and James
McClean as wingbacks, as these spearheaded the Greens attack.
By creating
opportunities in the first half, still this match was to belong to Mexico when
in the 16 minute Porto’s Jesus Corona opened the score, followed in the 25 by
Benfica’s striker Raul Jimenez took the PK to put the game at 2-0 in the half.
As the opportunities
did not stopped for Mexico, it was a shoot by Oribe Peralta that Real Sociedad man
Carlos Vela put in the nets for what proved to be the go-ahead goal for Mexico.
For the Boys in Green
we had the honor goal scored by substitute midfielder from Birmingham’s Stephen
Gleeson who beat Mexico’s keeper Cota in the 77 minute.
At the end, this was
just a friendly for O’ Neill seeing his weakness and make serious adjustments
to his initial eleven in his next friendly at Aviva Stadium scheduled on June 4
against another Latin-American heavyweight Uruguay.
These matches will be
ideal for the Boys in Green to have a good preparation on the eve of their qualifier
match against Austria on June 11 at home.
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