Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Mexico vs. Costa Rica: Who will be in El Tri's starting XI for World Cup qualifier?
Goal takes a look at three possibilities for El Tri coach Juan Carlos Osorio to use as he looks to overcome injury absences and top Costa Rica.
MEXICO CITY — Juan Carlos Osorio would rather have his full squad available, but the master tinkerer doesn't seem too miserable that he'll have to work out a Mexico lineup without some of his regulars.
He spoke Thursday about the confidence he had in his options to replace players who are injured and normally would be in the starting XI, players like Andres Guardado, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona and Hirving Lozano.
Exactly how he does that is not clear, and the manager himself said he and his coaching staff were yet to decide. Goal takes a look at some of the possibilities for El Tri's starting lineup Friday against Costa Rica...
Osorio could stick with a familiar lineup in the 4-3-3 formation that has been his standard during his coaching career. Despite speculation about the position, Guillermo Ochoa seems to be set to start in goal.
This formation sees Hector Moreno and Nestor Araujo partner up in the center of defense with traditional center back Carlos Salcedo filling the right back spot as he has at Fiorentina.
Raul Jimenez is an option to start to Chicharito's left, but Oribe Peralta enters the contest in good form for Club America and might get the starting nod.
And with Andres Guardado out, Rafa Marquez once again could step into the midfield, where the 37-year-old is used to playing with Atlas and lined up in Mexico's most recent qualifier, November's draw against Panama.
Costa Rica will line up with three center backs, Ronald Matarrita as a left wingback and likely Cristian Gamboa on the right side.
Osorio could counter that look with five at the back of his own. That would require someone, whether it be Salcedo, who has played wingback with Fiorentina (though only briefly) or lightning-fast Tigres winger Jurgen Damm, who has played fullback (though only briefly) to play a position that is not their natural one.