Heading into their World Cup opener, El Tri will look to dust off concerns about how well they would fare as they face the Polish in an imaginably pivotal clash in Group C on Tuesday.
Under the tutelage of Gerardo "Tata" Martino, having been in charge of El Tri since January 2019, the team has undergone a massive revamp as he handed call-ups to fifteen home-based players whom he deemed hungry to dispel all doubts and make a serious fist of reaching the last eight for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1986. That's without even mentioning their star man Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez who has been frozen out of the national team since 2019 by Tata.
Also not included was Chicharito's LA Galaxy teammate Julian Araujo, Monterrey playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro, and Chivas midfielder Fernando Beltran. Pizarro is a well-known poster boy, but he has not been involved heavily with El Tri since 2020, while Beltran has been a fringe player over the past six months.
Poland, on the other hand are aiming to make a strong statement and progress beyond the group stage for the first time since Mexico '86' with their opening game against the El Tri - noting that tourney favourites Argentina are also in their group.
The Eagles have fallen at the hedge in each of their last three World Cup appearances in 2002, 2006 and 2018 - winning one match and losing two in each of those editions - having failed to hit the fairyland of finishing third in 1974 and 1982.
Former Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznań boss Czeslaw Michniewicz was appointed as head coach earlier this year, making himself an almost instant hero in the position by guiding the Poles to a 2-0 win against Sweden in a qualifying playoff to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Poles hopes of performing well in Qatar heavily hinge on the form of legendary forward Robert Lewandowski, who is yet to score at a World Cup having smashed in all three matches in 2018.
Lewandowski, 34, will be determined to amend that unwanted record against Mexico on Today, and possibly put his nation in the driving seat for second spot in Group C in the process.
The match which is the second Group C clash is set to kick off at 4pm GMT at Stadium 974, which is the first temporary venue in World Cup history, having been constructed from 974 recycled shipping containers.
How did MEXICO qualify?
Mexico qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - heading into their eighth consecutive mundial appearance, continuing a scope that dates back to the 1994 tournament hosted by the United States, having been eliminated at the last 16 stage in each of their last seven entries.
In their final CONCACAF qualifier, they won 2-0 against El Salvador. Mexico finished as runners-up in the eight-team table and with a direct ticket to Qatar, after finishing level behind group leaders Canada and ahead of the third-placed United States.
How did POLAND qualify?
Poland qualified for the 2022 World Cup after finishing behind England in the qualifying round but advancing to a four-team playoff bracket. The team got a bye into the semi-finals after Russia was disqualified due to the war in Ukraine and beat Sweden 2-0 in the final.
TEAM NEWS
Star striker Raul Jimenez, who has scored 29 goals for Mexico, will be a serious doubt in the starting XI against Poland today.
The 31-year-old has not featured for his club - Wolverhampton Wanderers since August due to an ongoing groin issue.
Club America forward Henry Martin is ready and waiting to lead the pack upfront, should Jimenez be deemed only fit enough for the bench, while Sevilla winger Jesús Corona has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Poland have seen Jacek Goralski, Adam Buksa and Bartlomiej Dragowski withdraw from their squad due to injury.
Lewandowski was an unused substitute during the Eagles 1-0 win against Chile in a friendly on Wednesday, with Michniewicz wishing to keep his talisman sparkling for the global showpiece. .
Aston Villa's Matty Cash, who faces plenty of competition at right wing-back made his international debut a year ago after applying for a Polish passport through his mother's descent, should shake off a shoulder issue to be available for selection.
PROBABLE XI
Mexico: Ochoa; Sanchez, Montes, Moreno, Gallardo; Alvarez, Herrera, Guardado; Lozano, Martin, Vega
Poland: Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Kiwior; Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Szymanski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Lewandowski
MATCH OFFICIALS
Center Referee: Chris Beath (Australia)
Assistant 1: Anton Schetinin (Australia)
Assistant 2: Ashley Beecham (Australia)
Fourth Official: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
VAR Officials: Shaun Evans (Australia)
CHANNEL: Kickgh.com, SuperSport, SKY Sports, fuboTV, BBC iPlayer/website
KICKOFF: 1600GMT (4:00pm)
By: Pascal Nii Gogo Amoah
