Mexico and Germany will face off in an international friendly to see out their fixtures in the October break.
European giants, Germany appear to have rediscovered their winning touch and are aiming for a third win on the trot across all competitions and categories when they face Mexico at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side will be aiming for a second straight win on North American soil following their win over the United States of America last week. Mexico will represent a bigger threat and should prove to be a tougher opponents for Nagelsmann and co.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup holders are on a six-game unbeaten run and will not be short of confidence following their 2-0 win over Ghana last time out. As co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico will not have to go through the qualifiers to make it to the tournament proper. It is thus imperative that they make the most of friendlies until then to aid their preparations.
The same can be said of Germany in Europe, as they will host Euro 2024 next summer. Nagelsmann will be keen to outdo their performances in major international tournaments of late and hopefully bring about a resurgence in the sport that mirrors the foundations laid in 2006.
Both teams are smarting from a group stage exit in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and will be keen to rebuild their reputation. Mexico might have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but draws to Australia and Uzbekistan have since exposed their soft underbelly.
Germany had a horror run of results and have only once again regained the winning habit. The fallen giants have much work to do before the Euros kick off in the summer. Nagelsmann will be keen to prove himself following his premature parting of the ways with Bayern Munich. Motivation will not be lacking on the night.
The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on Sunday and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Mexico
😄 ✌🏻 👍🏻
¡Ya andamos en Filadelfia! 🇲🇽 #VamosTodos pic.twitter.com/pVU63wrpVb— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) October 16, 2023
Mexico boss Jaime Lozano will be keen to assess his options against top class opposition. The game against Germany should see him rotate but still go with a storing playing XI.
Santiago Gimenez is likely to get the nod over Raul Jimenez for the game given his prolific goalscoring exploits for Feyenoord Rotterdam. A 4-3-3 formation appears to be the way forward, with Guillermo Ochoa starting in between the sticks.
The veteran goalkeeper will be protected by the back four of Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez and Gerardo Arteaga. Edson Alvarez should hold the fort in central midfield, with Erick Sanchez and Luis Chavez providing him with ample support in the middle of the park. Hirving Lozano and Uriel Antuna are expected to provide the width upfront, with Gimenez leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ochoa; Jorge Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Arteaga; Erick Sanchez, Alvarez, Chavez; Lozano, Gimenez, Antuna
Germany
Germany might have crashed out of the last two FIFA World Cups at the group stage itself but made it to the semi-finals of the last two European Championships. With home support to boot, the aim will be to go all the way next summer.
Die Mannschaft have a solid roster but have looked toothless in recent times. However, wins over France and USA in recent weeks have pointed to an improvement in fortunes. Nagelsmann is a reliable coach who is well in touch with the modern game. He has the tools up his sleeve to take Germany back to the top and will be keen to make the most of friendlies to fine tune his side’s preparations.
Nagelsmann’s trademark 4-2-3-1 system saw them come back to win against USA and likely to be used once again on the night. Marc-Andre ter Stegen should continue in goal behind the back four of Jonathan Tah, Niklas Sule, Antonio Rudiger and Robin Gosens.
Ilkay Gundogan and Leon Goretzka should act as the double pivot with Julian Brandt, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane acting as the creative trio. Niclas Fullkrug scored against USA and should keep his spot upfront in the attack.
Naglesmann is familiar with the majority of the players from Bayern and this should make life easier for him in terms of deploying them to the best possible extent.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Tah, Sule, Rudiger, Gosens; Goretzka, Gundogan; Brandt, Musiala, Sane; Fullkrug
Key Stats
- Mexico and Germany last met at the 2018 FIFA World Cup where the Latin American side won 1-0 against the then defending champions.
- Germany and Mexico have played each other 12 times, with the Europeans winning six and losing just twice.
- The last time Germany kept a clean sheet against Mexico was in 1993.
- Mexico are yet to beat Germany in a friendly. Both their wins against Die Mannschaft have come in competitive fixtures.
Player to Watch
Jamal Musiala
The Bayern Munich star is among the best players in his position in world football and is far from reaching his peak yet. The 20-year-old is capable of pulling the strings from the number 10 role and is an excellent technician capable of pulling strings in the attack.
A nimble footed attacker with an eye for goal, Musiala is a difficult player to keep down thanks to his mobility. As long as he takes the game by the scruff of the neck, it should prove to be a difficult night for Mexico.
Prediction
Mexico 1-2 Germany
While Mexico will prove to be strong opponents, Germany have a second wind thanks to new management and will be keen to go into next summer’s Euros in top form. Players will also be aware that Julian Nagelsmann’s appointment will reset the board, leaving the door open for players to stake a claim to make the championship roster. All signs point towards a win for the Germans on the night.
