These were few words from the mouth of Mexico’s defender Ismael Rodriguez.
Indeed, Mexico have struggled to affirm their authority as giants in the CONCACAF zone since 2008.
Under Sven Goran Eriksson, Mexico endured a very tough time during which their status faltered.
Qualification to the finals of the World Cup in South Africa is still in the balance. Despite bagging three points against Trinidad and Tobago earlier in June, Mexico only come in fourth place behind Honduras in CONCACAF’s group table.
As things stand, Mexico are only assured of a playoff tie against the fifth-placed team (currently Uruguay) from the South American zone.
To sum up everything in order words, Mexico are yet to be back at their full best.
Determined Mexico poised to outclass outsiders Nicaragua
Therefore, defender Ismael Rodriguez insisted that Mexico’s mission was to snatch the Gold Cup trophy from hot rivals USA in order to reaffirm El Tri’s power. He stated:
"It's our obligation, without doubt, to think of winning it (the Gold Cup) to recover the respect and confidence of the people, so they believe again in the national team."
This declaration somehow sends an ultimatum to the rest of the teams in the Gold Cup tournament. Javier Aguirre’s men look set to challenge for some long-desired success this time round. A game against unknown Nicaragua could be the perfect fixture for El Tri.
Los Pinoleros are ranked 142nd in the Fifa World Rankings and this Gold Cup tournament will be Nicaragua’s first ever in their history of football. They qualified to the finals of the Gold Cup after shocking Guatemala 2-0 in the UNCAF Nations Cup which took place this earlier this year.
Still, Nicaragua are considered one of weakest teams in the CONCACAF region, having never qualified to the World Cup. Analytically, Nicaragua shouldn’t be much of a worry to Mexico. Already, the month of June witnessed quite a boost in the camp of the Mexicans. They thrashed Venezuela 4-0 recently in a friendly game to up their spirits ahead of the Gold Cup tournament.
Mexico’s 23 man squad is mostly consisted of local players; only striker Carlos Vela and midfielder Giovanni Dos Santos, who both play in England, are foreign-based players.
Mexico and Nicaragua, who are paired in Group C alongside Guadeloupe and Panama, lock horns on July 5.
Mexico’s 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez (Tigres UANL), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jose de Jesus Corona (Tecos UAG)
Defenders: Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jose Antonio Castro (UANL), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Edgar Duenas (Toluca), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America), Ismael Rodriguez (America), Fausto Pinto (Cruz Azul)
Midfielders: Israel Martinez (San Luis), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (UNAM), Luis Miguel Noriega (Puebla), Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Pablo Barrera (Pumas), Carlos Esquivel (Toluca), Jose Maria Cardenas (Pachuca), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Omar Arellano (Guadalajara), Omar Bravo (UANL), Miguel Sabah (Morelia).
