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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/22/mexico-south-korea-germany-juan-carlos-osorio
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Mexico starting to think big but need to refocus for South Korea test | Mexico starting to think big but need to refocus for South Korea test |
| (6 months later) | |
| Javier Hernández could not hold back his tears. Once the final whistle blew on Sunday’s victory over Germany, “Chicharito”he cried with joy as he embraced his Mexico teammates. Hirving Lozano, who had scored the decisive goal from Hernández’s assist, also captured the weight of the moment. “That,” he said, “was the best goal of my life.” | Javier Hernández could not hold back his tears. Once the final whistle blew on Sunday’s victory over Germany, “Chicharito”he cried with joy as he embraced his Mexico teammates. Hirving Lozano, who had scored the decisive goal from Hernández’s assist, also captured the weight of the moment. “That,” he said, “was the best goal of my life.” |
| Juan Carlos Osorio quickly noted the huge influence that the victory could provide. “This is very important for the future of Mexican football,” the manager said, though one of the country’s daily sports newspapers, Record, perhaps put it best. “Changes our history,” read the following day’s headline. | Juan Carlos Osorio quickly noted the huge influence that the victory could provide. “This is very important for the future of Mexican football,” the manager said, though one of the country’s daily sports newspapers, Record, perhaps put it best. “Changes our history,” read the following day’s headline. |
| 'Right now is a good time': Even in Alaska, pride for Mexico runs deep | |
| It is clear that the win over Germany will never be forgotten by El Tri fans but the challenge is to build on it, to make it really count. Before the celebrations can continue, Mexico must on Saturday take on a South Korea side desperate for points after an opening 1-0 defeat against Sweden. | It is clear that the win over Germany will never be forgotten by El Tri fans but the challenge is to build on it, to make it really count. Before the celebrations can continue, Mexico must on Saturday take on a South Korea side desperate for points after an opening 1-0 defeat against Sweden. |
| Morale appears to be at an all-time high for a talented Mexico squad and all signs point to a straightforward win for them. But ask Mexicans whether Osorio will oversee another positive result and the answers will not be uniformly confident. | Morale appears to be at an all-time high for a talented Mexico squad and all signs point to a straightforward win for them. But ask Mexicans whether Osorio will oversee another positive result and the answers will not be uniformly confident. |
| The manager is a polarising figure because of his tendency to rotate players and their positions. Whereas some see the Colombian as a meticulously prepared scholar of the game, others perceive him as a mad scientist who overthinks every scenario. Osorio has won over a large number of sceptics in recent days but has not halted all the worries regarding his tactics. | The manager is a polarising figure because of his tendency to rotate players and their positions. Whereas some see the Colombian as a meticulously prepared scholar of the game, others perceive him as a mad scientist who overthinks every scenario. Osorio has won over a large number of sceptics in recent days but has not halted all the worries regarding his tactics. |
| As each day passes for El Tri supportersWith each passing day, the high from Sunday’s result is gradually being replaced for El Tri supporters by anxiety regarding Osorio’s gameplan for South Korea. One does not have to search far into the past to find instances in which he has made head‑turning decisions in a major international tournament. | As each day passes for El Tri supportersWith each passing day, the high from Sunday’s result is gradually being replaced for El Tri supporters by anxiety regarding Osorio’s gameplan for South Korea. One does not have to search far into the past to find instances in which he has made head‑turning decisions in a major international tournament. |
| At the 2016 Copa América, Osorio infuriated Mexico’s fanbase by fielding three different goalkeepers in the team’s three group fixtures. Critics have also brought up the fact that the manager used 49 different lineups in his 49 games in charge. | At the 2016 Copa América, Osorio infuriated Mexico’s fanbase by fielding three different goalkeepers in the team’s three group fixtures. Critics have also brought up the fact that the manager used 49 different lineups in his 49 games in charge. |
| Even if Osorio makes significant changes to his starting XI, fans can rest easy knowing that Mexico have a number of impressive backup players. Fringe options such as Jonathan Dos Santos, Jesús Corona, Marco Fabián and Edson Álvarez are more than capable of getting the job done against South Korea. | Even if Osorio makes significant changes to his starting XI, fans can rest easy knowing that Mexico have a number of impressive backup players. Fringe options such as Jonathan Dos Santos, Jesús Corona, Marco Fabián and Edson Álvarez are more than capable of getting the job done against South Korea. |
| Corona, perhaps more than the others, was also slightly unlucky to be left out of the XI for the opener. With his immense pace and creativity, the 25-year-old has the talent to become a game-changer for El Tri on Saturday. | Corona, perhaps more than the others, was also slightly unlucky to be left out of the XI for the opener. With his immense pace and creativity, the 25-year-old has the talent to become a game-changer for El Tri on Saturday. |
| As long as a strong core of key players remain in the XI, Mexico should have no problems defeating South Korea. If Osorio sticks with an attack-minded 4-3-3, his superior squad has the potential to score a few goals. As presumptuous as it is to assume El Tri will not run into trouble, the odds are highly in favour of Mexico securing six points from their first two matches. Then they would be one step closer to breaking the infamous quinto partido curse. | As long as a strong core of key players remain in the XI, Mexico should have no problems defeating South Korea. If Osorio sticks with an attack-minded 4-3-3, his superior squad has the potential to score a few goals. As presumptuous as it is to assume El Tri will not run into trouble, the odds are highly in favour of Mexico securing six points from their first two matches. Then they would be one step closer to breaking the infamous quinto partido curse. |
| The “fifth game” represents Mexico’s obsession with reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Since 1994 they have been knocked out of six consecutive World Cups in the last 16. Although this is an achievement in itself, many see it as symbolic of the stagnation of El Tri’s growth outside the Concacaf region. | The “fifth game” represents Mexico’s obsession with reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Since 1994 they have been knocked out of six consecutive World Cups in the last 16. Although this is an achievement in itself, many see it as symbolic of the stagnation of El Tri’s growth outside the Concacaf region. |
| Reaching the quarter-finals would showcase Mexico’s development on the world stage. The country’s players and domestic league have made significant improvements since the 1990s but there has been little to show for it in the World Cup. | Reaching the quarter-finals would showcase Mexico’s development on the world stage. The country’s players and domestic league have made significant improvements since the 1990s but there has been little to show for it in the World Cup. |
| After the win against Germany, the quinto partido might be a modest goal for Mexico. Before the tournament, it seemed almost laughable to read the players saying they could make a push to win the World Cup. Now, after the stunning start, it might be time to take their comments more seriously. | After the win against Germany, the quinto partido might be a modest goal for Mexico. Before the tournament, it seemed almost laughable to read the players saying they could make a push to win the World Cup. Now, after the stunning start, it might be time to take their comments more seriously. |
| 'Homophobic and not very clever': why puto chants haunt Mexican football | |
| “From the beginning our intention was to be in first place,” the striker Raúl Jiménez said this week. “We want to win all our matches. To be champions we have to go through them all.” | “From the beginning our intention was to be in first place,” the striker Raúl Jiménez said this week. “We want to win all our matches. To be champions we have to go through them all.” |
| Mexico have a long way to go in the group stage, never mind the tournament. But after the brilliant opening win you can hardly blame them for dreaming big. Either way, it will be fascinating to see whether they can maintain their momentum. | Mexico have a long way to go in the group stage, never mind the tournament. But after the brilliant opening win you can hardly blame them for dreaming big. Either way, it will be fascinating to see whether they can maintain their momentum. |
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