Mexico may find The Netherlands tough

643

 

Two times former world U17 male football champions, The Hero Boys of Mexico has a difficult hurdle to cross in Netherlands as they clash in the first semifinal of the championship at 2030 hours of Thursday at the Estadio Bezerrão, BRASILIA.
If mere credentials win a match, FIFA has no business playing the match. Mexico won in 2005 and 2011; were Silver medalists in 2013 and 4th place holders in 2015 among other achievements at world level. Mexico was eight times CONCACAF champions in 1985, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. (Mexico won the title 4 consecutive times).
The Oranje boys of Netherlands appearing for the third time at the world party, only has a Bronze medal won in 2005 to show. The Kees Van Wonderen tutored boys were four times champions in Europe in 2011, 2012, 2018 and 2019. They have an enviable record of edging out defending Champions, England at the Euro qualifying stages.
To get to this stage, Mexico played goalless with Paraguay, lost to Italy 1-2, drowned Solomon Islands 8-0, defeated Japan 2-0 and clipped Korea 1-0. They had 12 goals for and two against.
Netherlands were lucky losers who found grace having lost to Japan 0-3, lost to Senegal 1-3 but walloped USA 4-0, defeated Nigeria 3-1 and sent Paraguay to the gulag 4-0. They scored 12 goals but conceded 8.
Although Mexico holds the ball better at 251-247 ball possession, Netherlands has better shots at goal and were caught offside 10 times to Mexico 2 times. Mexico has 30-27 corners. These figures are close. It will be laughable to assume that since Netherlands lost to Japan 0-3 and Japan lost 0-2 to Mexico it is a formality for Netherlands to be defeated. That kind of mathematical calculation does not work in football as circumstantial factors are mostly responsible for victory.
The fact that both teams has 12 goals scored each but Netherlands conceded 8 and Mexico 2 is a pointer that the defense of Netherlands may collapse early. The match may be decided in the first half as Mexico had impressive credentials will want to upgrade with a hope to meet up with Nigeria who are five times champions.
There is a caution for Mexico. Netherlands do not mind committing fouls to get goals. Of their 58 fouls, 18 were against USA that they trashed 4-0, 15 were against hard fighting Japan who banged them 3-0. Mexico needs to study that tape. Mexico had 48 fouls 14 of which was against rough Italians and 10 against Japan. Netherlands bagged 8 yellows and Mexico 5. Netherlands only red card was against Senegal but Mexico had one each against Paraguay and Italy.
Although Netherlands have better shots on target and their players are foxes looking to beat offside traps, Mexico may wreck the defense of the Dutch for the Mexicans have many players who have lethal shots like that of legendary Thunder Balogun or Alloysius Atuegbu whose shot removed the horizontal bar in a match.
– ENIOLA OLATUNJI.

Kindly support the growth of journalism in Nigeria

Reactions to stories published can be sent to us at [email protected]


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *