Mexico host Jamaica at Estadio Azteca today, September 2, for Matchday 1 of the Final Round of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying 2022. After losing the Gold Cup in the final against the United States, El Tri will want to start their journey to Qatar 2022 with the right foot.
While Tata Martino’s team failed to defend their title in the continental tournament, his men will try to put all that behind for the start of the Octagonal. They will try to qualify for an eighth successive time for the World Cup.
Mexico hadn’t had troubles in this phase, losing only one of their 10 matches played. They will start their journey against Jamaica, who are in the Final Round of the Qualifiers for the first time since their 2014 campaign.
Mexico’s confirmed lineup
After competing with somewhat an alternate team in the Gold Cup, Mexico will have some familiar faces back for the Qualifiers. For example, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who played in the Olympics. Also, Raul Jimenez will be back after recovering from a skull fracture last season.
Hector Herrera, who played in the Gold Cup, was not named to the 28-man squad called up for this match. But Rogelio Funes Mori and Orbelin Pineda are available for the team. This will be Mexico’s lineup: Ochoa; Gallardo, Montes, Araujo, Sanchez; Alvarez, Cordova, Romo, Alvarado; Funes Mori, Vega.
Jamaica’s confirmed lineup
Jamaica’s head coach Theodoro Whitmore chose several players for this match without much experience with the national team. Seven players made five appearances or fewer with the team, including Watford striker Andre Gray and Derby County midfielder Ravel Morrison.
The team will need some improvements in attacking, as they have failed to score in back to back games. The goals in the World Cup came from Shamar Nicholson, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Junior Flemmings. Here, this will be Jamaica’s starting eleven: Blake; Lawrence, Mariappa, Lowe, Powell; Grant, Williams, Campbell; Gray, Burke, Williams, Nicholson.
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