2022 Qatar World Cup | What is Mexico’s most important game in the group stage?
‘El Tri’ face Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C at the Qatar World Cup with the opening game for Martino’s men on 22 November
Mexico’s Argentine manager Tata Martino did little to quell the doubters as his Mexico side fell last night 0-1 to Paraguay in a friendly game staged in Atlanta (Georgia) in the US.
The coach will be able to point to the fact that his high profile players were not involved with the Mexico team featuring only Liga MX talent with a 50th minute goal from Gonzalez enough to secure the win for the South American outfit.
Martino’s Mexico play four friendly games ahead of the World Cup with El Tri fans hoping for better performances in the games against Peru, Colombia, Iraq and Sweden.
Qatar 2022
Mexico have been placed in Group C at the 2022 World Cup with thousands of supporters expected in the Gulf State to support their side with Mexico traditionally one of the best supported nations at recent World Cups.
Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Poland will provide the opposition in the three group stage games and finishing first or second in the group will be sufficient to see Mexico advance to the next stage of the tournament.
On paper, many Mexican fans would expect their team to be too strong for Saudi Arabia in the final game of the three with the highly rated Argentine side expected to be clear group favourites and advance as group winners.
A titanic tussle for second place awaits with both Mexico and a Robert Lewandowski powered Poland eyeing second place in this competitive group and it’s against the European nation where Mexico start their campaign in Qatar.
November 22
Stadium 974 in downtown Doha is the venue for Mexico’s World Cup opener and arguably the most important contest in their campaign with a win over Poland vital in setting Tata Martino’s men on track for a place in the Round of 16.
Recent meetings between Mexico and Poland have been few and far between with the last game coming back in 2017 as Mexico secured a narrow 1-0 win in a friendly contest with Raul Jimenez bagging the only goal of the game. Previous meetings between both nations, again in friendly games ended in a 1-1 draw in 2011 and in 2005 and the November game in Doha will inevitably be a close fought encounter.