Mexico, the opponent Korea will face, reveals the outline of its 'World Cup Best 11'... A meaning greater than the 5-1 demolition of Serbia

*This content was translated by AI.

Mexico, the host nation set to face South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, secured a decisive victory in its final preparatory match.

On the 5th (Korea time), Mexico defeated Serbia 5-1 in a friendly match held at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca, Mexico. Displaying formidable performance in the final mock exam ahead of the World Cup opening, the team boosted its momentum.

South Korea and Mexico are both in Group A of the tournament, competing with Czech Republic from Europe and South Africa from Africa for a spot in the round of 16. Among them, South Korea and Mexico are considered strong candidates for the group's top position. The two teams will play their second group stage match on the 19th at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico.

On this day, Mexico remained unfazed despite conceding an early goal. They fell behind in the 17th minute of the first half, but Yohan Vazquez (Genoa) equalized in the 34th minute to restore balance. In stoppage time of the first half, Mexico induced an own goal from the opponent to take the lead.

Mexico's offensive pressure continued into the second half. In the 12th minute of the second half, key striker Raul Jimenez (Fulham) scored another goal to widen the gap. Later, another opponent own goal pushed the score to 4-1, and in the final moments of the second half, Luis Chavez (Dynamo Moscow) scored a decisive goal to seal the victory.

The match performance was also overwhelming. According to football statistics platform FotMob, Mexico dominated the game with 66% ball possession. They recorded 17 total shots, including 7 on target. In contrast, Serbia, considered a European dark horse, was overwhelmed by Mexico's intense pressure and attacking play, managing only 3 total shots and 1 on target.

Mexico's decisive victory on this day drew attention not only for its strong performance but also for its starting lineup. The players who started against Serbia are highly likely to be regular starters in the World Cup finals.

Mexican sports specialist media La Opinion reported after the match that "Mexico has completed preparations for the North American World Cup by securing a decisive victory over Serbia" and added that "Mexico will enter the World Cup with eight consecutive matches without defeat."

The media further stated, "Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre can be reassured by the team's performance. Most importantly, it was confirmed that the 11 starters on this day should be the starting lineup for the World Cup opener. Everyone was in good condition and their chemistry was excellent."

Mexico will face South Africa on the 12th in the World Cup opener and the first group stage match. Having secured both performance and results against Serbia, it is now highly likely that Mexico will field a similar starting lineup and tactical approach against South Africa. If this trend continues, coach Aguirre's core strategy is expected to remain largely unchanged for the second group stage match against South Korea.

This is also a crucial point for South Korea to monitor. Mexico not only secured a decisive victory in its final preparatory match but also revealed the outline of its Best 11 for the World Cup finals. South Korea must now carefully analyze Mexico's attacking combinations, midfield composition, and the competition for the starting goalkeeper position.

On this day, coach Aguirre deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation. Raul Jimenez, who plays for Fulham in the English Premier League (EPL), was positioned at the forefront. Mexico opened up its attack through forward passes to Jimenez and quick support from the second line. It was also impressive that defensive midfielder Eric Lira (Cruz Azul) protected the area in front of the back four, maintaining balance between offense and defense.

On the flanks, Brian Gutierrez's movement stood out. His quick dribbling and aggressive forward runs shook Serbia's defense. Football statistics platform FotMob awarded Gutierrez the highest rating of 8.1 points for both teams. For South Korea, Mexico's flank attacks are a critical area that must be closely monitored.

The goalkeeper position, which was expected to be fiercely contested, is now likely to be occupied by young goalkeeper Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), born in 2000. Until now, 'legend' Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol) had been the starting goalkeeper for Mexico at the World Cup stage. However, local media predicted after the Serbia match that "a good conclusion was reached in this game, and Rangel is expected to maintain his position as the starting goalkeeper in the World Cup opener."

Luis Chavez, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal, also left a strong impression. Local media evaluated Chavez, stating, "He showed he is at 100% condition and can compete for a starting spot in the World Cup."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.