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Mexico national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Nov 22, 2022 at 4pm UK
 
Poland national football team

Mexico
0 - 0
Poland


Sanchez (29'), Moreno (56')
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Frankowski (76')

Mexico boss Gerardo Martino: 'Poland clash will be crucial'

Mexico boss Gerardo Martino: 'Poland clash will be crucial'
© Reuters
Mexico head coach Gerardo Martino believes their opening World Cup Group C clash against Poland on Tuesday will be "crucial" in their quest to progress to the knockout rounds.

Mexico head coach Gerardo Martino believes that their opening World Cup Group C clash against Poland on Tuesday will be "crucial" in their quest to progress to the knockout rounds.

El Tri are competing at their eighth successive World Cup this year and they will be seeking to improve on their previous seven tournament performances which have seen them eliminated in the round of 16 on each occasion.

Mexico do have a good record in the group stage, though, as they have won their opening group game in five of the last six World Cups and they have not lost an opening group match on the biggest stage since 1994.

With Argentina regarded as the favourites by many to top Group C, Mexico are set to battle with Poland and Saudi Arabia for second place.

Indeed, an opening clash with Poland is up first for the Mexicans, and Martino – who celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday – is keen to make a strong start to their campaign against an opponent who "only has one game style".

Mexico coach Gerardo Martino before the match on November 9, 2022© Reuters

"We are expecting to play our three group stage matches the same way. That will depend on the rival's game plan, too. Tomorrow's match is going to be crucial for us," Martino said at a press conference on Monday.

"Poland only has one game style, and we are going to prepare ourselves for that match based on it. Poland has versatile players. They always wait and look for the open space. The style we saw [in our 2-1 friendly defeat] against Sweden might be similar tomorrow.

"We have a tough group, with competitive rivals. Tomorrow's showdown is special and so important for us."

Meanwhile, 37-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is aware of the threats that Poland could pose on Tuesday and he is expecting a challenging encounter at Stadium 974 in Doha.

"Tomorrow's match is key. We know we have a competitive team. There is no easy rival; we are only thinking about Poland as of today," Ochoa told reporters.

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa pictured during training on November 21, 2022© Reuters

"We know what we are facing tomorrow against Poland. We need to block them. It is not going to be easy, but we are ready."

Ochoa, who has won over 130 international caps with Mexico, added: "The group is excited to start the World Cup. Not everyone has an experience in a World Cup, but most of them have international experience.

"I have the privilege to be in my fifth World Cup. I want this one to be different – and the best of them all.

"Every World Cup is important, but Brazil 2014 was special. I hope for everyone to have another big memory during this World Cup."

Mexico lost their only previous World Cup meeting against Poland, suffering a 3-1 defeat in the group stage of the 1978 tournament.

After facing Poland on Tuesday, El Tri will take on Argentina on Saturday before facing Saudi Arabia in their final Group C fixture on November 30.

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Written by
Oliver Thomas
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Poland
37.1%
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Poland's Robert Lewandowski during training on November 21, 2022
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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