To Mexico and Javier Aguirrewe must put a temporary pause on the rehearsal period for the 2026 World Cup.
In his third stage at the head of the Mexican team and after four friendly matches, Aguirre will face his first official match on Friday when visit to Honduras for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League.
“Vasco” Aguirre returned to office in August, replacing Jaime Lozano and since then he has a balance of two draws and two victories, the last 2-0 against the United States playing at home last month in Guadalajara.
Now things will be different in Honduras, where in addition to playing in someone else’s backyard, the Mexican team will have to overcome the weather conditions. Tropical Storm Sara was expected to make landfall in Catracho in the next few hours.
“I have had to be in San Pedro, in Tegucigalpa and I am not one to put forward arguments or look for justifications,” Aguirre said at a press conference at the concentration hotel. “That the field, that the refereeing or the weather, if it is played it is because it is practicable, I don’t know if the rain will give a respite for tomorrow’s game, but it has always been difficult for us to play here.”
Although the performance has not been optimal in the first four games, Aguirre excused himself by saying that something like this was expected because it was a period of player testing. He promised something better for the official matches.
That moment has arrived and it will be against a rival who in the last match was close to leaving El Tri out in the same tournament.
“We saw scenes from the game here and from the Azteca. Things happened, but now we are in a new stage with great enthusiasm to play our first official match,” Aguirre added. “We hope to continue on an upward trend, I hope we are capable of doing so.”
Aguirre has made few changes in terms of names, Jesús Angulo perhaps stands out as the new left back, in addition to the returns of Jesús Gallardo, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and forward Raúl Jiménez, relegated by Lozano in the Copa América.
Beyond the names, the match is presented as an opportunity for Mexico to take revenge for the 2-0 defeat that Honduras gave it in Tegucigalpa on November 17 of last year, also in the Nations League.
In the second leg, the Mexican team needed an agonizing goal from Edson Álvarez to define the match on penalties, where the goalkeeper Luis Malagon He blocked a couple of shots.
“Many of these players were here a year ago and had a bitter pill to swallow, but I hope that tomorrow we will rise to the occasion,” added the strategist.
Mexico will have a notable absence against Honduras. He Starting center back Johan Vázquez was injured and stayed in Italy, where he plays with Genoa. Jesús Orozco (Chivas) could take his place. Another option is that Álvarez (West Ham) Leave your position as a holding midfielder in midfield and play as a central defender.
The other absentee is midfielder Roberto Alvarado, who is not an undisputed starter.
“For Johan’s absence I have several alternatives, the most natural is to use ‘Chiquete´ (Orozco)but I can put two right-leg centre-backs like (Víctor) Guzmán or (Israel) Reyes or use Angulo inside”revealed the coach. “To relieve ‘Piojo’ there are also possibilities, they are important players, but I am calm because we have alternatives.”
Honduras, led by Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, arrived at this phase after finishing second in its group in the qualifying phase.
The Hondurans will try to prove that what happened in their last duel against the Mexicans was not a coincidence and they will try to surprise.
“All the games are different, the moments are different, the groups are different,” Rueda said at a press conference. “This is a totally different Mexico. In recent years, it has had three or four coaches, each with their personal stamp and this new coaching staff has shown other characteristics.”
Where to watch Honduras vs Mexico?
Time: 8:00pm
Transmission: TDUN, Channel 5, Azteca 7, Vix
Stadium: General Francisco Morazán, Honduras
