‘Tata,’ Mexico look to bounce back after Uruguay debacle

The El Tri traveling circus is in Chicago tonight for its third and final friendly match before two Nations League appointments appear on the calendar.

Coach Gerardo Martino is under fire again after the butt-kicking Uruguay handed them on Thursday, but with a 38-man roster to peruse “Tata” is likely to continue experimenting against Ecuador.

The focus against the South American “Tricolor” will to put the disaster against “Los Charrúa” behind them and absorb whatever tactical strategies “Tata” wants to impose.

Then again, that didn’t go so well against Uruguay and the 5-2-3 line-up Mexico opened with is best if consigned to the dustbin.

Mexico youngsters chomping at the bit

Scoring remains the primary concern for “Tata” and 21-year-old Santiago Giménez could be in a position to make a statement. The Cruz Azul starlet scored against Nigeria and delivered the pass to Jesús Gallardo that led directly to the winner (an own-goal, naturally).

But the El Tri Kiddie Corps isn’t expected to see too much action against Ecuador – Sporting News projects that right fullback Kevin Álvarez and defender Johan Vázquez will be the only non-veterans in the starting line-up, though Vázquez is more than likely to make the final World Cup roster.

Instead, coach Martino will give some of his seasoned vets a bit of a run against a quality team (Ecuador, a World Cup qualifier, is No. 46 in the most recent FIFA rankings) before sending them home so they can benefit from full training camps with their club teams.

That’s because “Tata” is expected to face Suriname (No. 141 in the FIFA world rankings) and Jamaica (No. 64) with a youthful roster. El Tri novices such as Álvarez, Carlos Acevedo, Israel Reyes, Erik Lira, Erick Sánchez and Marcelo Flores will be called upon to deliver in the Nations League.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, Mexico must rebound from the gut-punch delivered by Uruguay, and Ecuador – featuring several players who Liga MX fans will recognize – should provide a worthy challenge.

It would seem certain that “Tata” will revert to the 4-3-3 approach that Mexico is more familiar with. And Guillermo Ochoa will get his turn between the pipes, a simple fact that should steady the defense in front of him.

And if Mexico turns in another stinker, the “Fuera Tata” chants will be considerably more audible.