Mexico national team guide for FM2008
Average Rating: Unrated Hits: 307 Submitted: Dec 15, 2007
Here you can find an indepth guide to the players on offer when managing Mexico in FM2008? Not sure what players to pick when managing Mexico in Football Manager 2008? This guide will give you various hints and tips on the best Mexican players in FM2008.
Expectations and Information
The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación expect the National team to uphold the country's honour in every match.
Ranking - 16th
Star Players - Oswaldo Sanchez, Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado
Fierce Rivals - USA
Other Rivals - Honduras and Costa Rica
Stadium - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Stadium Capacity - 104000 all seater with undersoil heating
Region - Central America
Continent - North America
Nickname - El Tri
Goalkeepers
The current Mexico number one is Oswaldo Sanchez and I recommend playing him as your first choice keeper. As the screenshot of Oswaldo shows he is a very decent player and if you play regularly in the Premiership on FM you will notice many clubs are interested in the keeper who has attribute 19 for things like One on Ones, Handling and Command of Area. At the age of 33, Oswaldo has over 60 Mexican caps to his name so he knows what football at this level is all about so take my word of advice and play him in goals. However there must be an alternative and there is, a very talented 21 year old with 21 caps all ready to his name. Francisco Guillermo Ochoa a favorite on the game is a very talented goalkeeper and I was tempted to recommend him as first choice keeper but his experience compared to Oswaldo was a major factor however if you do choose him I am sure he won't let you down.
Left Backs
The player I would recommend to start in the left back role would be Chivas player Gonzalo Pinada. At only 24 years of age he already has 39 caps to his name and rightly so. With stats like Technique 17, Dribbling 16, ,Marking 18 and Work Rate 18 it is no surprise he would be the first choice left back. Again there is another choice and that is Carlos Salcido of PSV, he is 27 years old and has 45 caps. Carlos has good work rate and tackling abilities but I would choose Gonzalo over Carlos for his attacking play and work rate.
Right Backs
The starting Right back I would recommend would be Stuttgart player Ricardo Osorio, the reason being his experience. Along with his 52 caps he has many decent attributes, he is very quick, a great passer and a good tackler which is what you want from a Right back. the 27 year old would make a good Right back for the Mexican team. Again the sub for him would be Jose Antonio Castro who plays for America(Mex), he is 26 years old and has 14 caps to his name. He is not as talented as Ricardo but will give his all if he plays and has good concentration levels and battles hard.
Center Backs
The obvious choice would be the skipper Rafael Marquez, you really need him in your team and the big Barcelona player will never fail to impress. He wins tackles aerially and on the ground and a real gem in the Mexican line up. His influence is fantastic for the team and he leads by example a must to have on the pitch. Alongside him it's a bit more difficult you could either have a very talented 38 year old Claudio Suarez or a younger version of him at 25 Francisco Javier Rodriguez. I am going to back Francisco here, no disrespect to Claudio but to be fair I think he has past his time in national football but provides decent enough back up. Francisco looks a good player I must say with stats like Strength 20 he would make up what would be a good defence and Marquez and Francisco would be the backbone of this side.
Left Midfielders
Andres Guardado is the player that really must start for you int his area of the field, I like to think of him as the Mexican Messi and to be fair it's a half decent comparison. At only 20 years of age Andres has over 30 caps and with fantastic attributes as you can see from the screen shot he is strong with long shots, technique, dribbling and with him only 20 and this experienced what a future in International football for him. If for any reason he can't play I would recommend Ramoncito Morales who has 55 caps and is a very quick and exciting player and if you want Nery Castillo could drop back from Striker to play here.
Right Midfielders
Probably the weakest area in the squad but to start in the position I would choose Fernando Arce, he is 27 years old and has 27 caps to his name. He is a good dribbler, great crosser, has amazing technique, good flair, very creative and and on his day he can be amazing but very inconsistent. The reserve is Jesus Arellano who is not great but do you know who can play here who is only 18 years old? A certain Giovani dos Santos, uncapped still but what a future he has as we can all see from the screenshot however give him a year before starting him, possibly give him a run out in a few friendlies before the competitive games.
Center Midfielders
The two players that I recommend to start are both defensive thinking players but there was no other alternatives that could improve on them. However they are both very talented and have a combined 216 caps between them so experience is not an issue. The first is Pavel Pardo who is 30 years old and has 114 caps, his strengths on the pitch include Passing, Free Kicks, Work Rate, Influence and Stamina. I am confident he can do a job for your side as his work rate is second to none. Alongside him at 34 years of age and with 72 caps its German villa, he has a number of 20's for attributes like Tackling, Work Rate, Bravery and Anticipation. These two provide the engine room for your team and will never stop working. The sub for them is Gerardo Torrado, not great but will try his best.
Strikers
It was difficult to find the right two to play alongside each other but I went for the quick Omar Bravo and the Skillful Nery Castillo. Omar is 27 years old and has 49 caps with 11 goals, he is very determined and very quick. He is composed in front of goal and has good heading abilities for a small guy at only 5'7. Alongside him with 10 caps and 5 goals is Nery Castillo, Nery has good attributes in areas such as Dribbling, Acceleration, Agility, Pace, Stamina and Technique but again he is only 5'7 so the two guy's I picked were small but Mexico's style of short passing wont really affect the poor aerial ability of the attackers. On the bench you would then have Cuahtemoc Bravo, who is a very useful player who has 34 goals for his country. You have the great Paco Palencia, who is maybe past it but will give his all and you have the great Carlos Vela, the 18 year old maybe is not ready yet but is one for the future and will be a huge hit for his country I am sure.
Captain - Rafael Marquez
Most Exciting Player - Andres Guardado
Promising Youth - Sergio Arias - 19 Year Old Goal Keeper, Giovani dos Santos - 18 Year Old Attacking Midfielder Left/Right/Center, Carlos Vela - 18 Year Old Attacking Midfielder Center/Striker
My recommended Starting Eleven:
The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación expect the National team to uphold the country's honour in every match.
Ranking - 16th
Star Players - Oswaldo Sanchez, Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado
Fierce Rivals - USA
Other Rivals - Honduras and Costa Rica
Stadium - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Stadium Capacity - 104000 all seater with undersoil heating
Region - Central America
Continent - North America
Nickname - El Tri
Goalkeepers
The current Mexico number one is Oswaldo Sanchez and I recommend playing him as your first choice keeper. As the screenshot of Oswaldo shows he is a very decent player and if you play regularly in the Premiership on FM you will notice many clubs are interested in the keeper who has attribute 19 for things like One on Ones, Handling and Command of Area. At the age of 33, Oswaldo has over 60 Mexican caps to his name so he knows what football at this level is all about so take my word of advice and play him in goals. However there must be an alternative and there is, a very talented 21 year old with 21 caps all ready to his name. Francisco Guillermo Ochoa a favorite on the game is a very talented goalkeeper and I was tempted to recommend him as first choice keeper but his experience compared to Oswaldo was a major factor however if you do choose him I am sure he won't let you down.
Left Backs
The player I would recommend to start in the left back role would be Chivas player Gonzalo Pinada. At only 24 years of age he already has 39 caps to his name and rightly so. With stats like Technique 17, Dribbling 16, ,Marking 18 and Work Rate 18 it is no surprise he would be the first choice left back. Again there is another choice and that is Carlos Salcido of PSV, he is 27 years old and has 45 caps. Carlos has good work rate and tackling abilities but I would choose Gonzalo over Carlos for his attacking play and work rate.
Right Backs
The starting Right back I would recommend would be Stuttgart player Ricardo Osorio, the reason being his experience. Along with his 52 caps he has many decent attributes, he is very quick, a great passer and a good tackler which is what you want from a Right back. the 27 year old would make a good Right back for the Mexican team. Again the sub for him would be Jose Antonio Castro who plays for America(Mex), he is 26 years old and has 14 caps to his name. He is not as talented as Ricardo but will give his all if he plays and has good concentration levels and battles hard.
Center Backs
The obvious choice would be the skipper Rafael Marquez, you really need him in your team and the big Barcelona player will never fail to impress. He wins tackles aerially and on the ground and a real gem in the Mexican line up. His influence is fantastic for the team and he leads by example a must to have on the pitch. Alongside him it's a bit more difficult you could either have a very talented 38 year old Claudio Suarez or a younger version of him at 25 Francisco Javier Rodriguez. I am going to back Francisco here, no disrespect to Claudio but to be fair I think he has past his time in national football but provides decent enough back up. Francisco looks a good player I must say with stats like Strength 20 he would make up what would be a good defence and Marquez and Francisco would be the backbone of this side.
Left Midfielders
Andres Guardado is the player that really must start for you int his area of the field, I like to think of him as the Mexican Messi and to be fair it's a half decent comparison. At only 20 years of age Andres has over 30 caps and with fantastic attributes as you can see from the screen shot he is strong with long shots, technique, dribbling and with him only 20 and this experienced what a future in International football for him. If for any reason he can't play I would recommend Ramoncito Morales who has 55 caps and is a very quick and exciting player and if you want Nery Castillo could drop back from Striker to play here.
Right Midfielders
Probably the weakest area in the squad but to start in the position I would choose Fernando Arce, he is 27 years old and has 27 caps to his name. He is a good dribbler, great crosser, has amazing technique, good flair, very creative and and on his day he can be amazing but very inconsistent. The reserve is Jesus Arellano who is not great but do you know who can play here who is only 18 years old? A certain Giovani dos Santos, uncapped still but what a future he has as we can all see from the screenshot however give him a year before starting him, possibly give him a run out in a few friendlies before the competitive games.
Center Midfielders
The two players that I recommend to start are both defensive thinking players but there was no other alternatives that could improve on them. However they are both very talented and have a combined 216 caps between them so experience is not an issue. The first is Pavel Pardo who is 30 years old and has 114 caps, his strengths on the pitch include Passing, Free Kicks, Work Rate, Influence and Stamina. I am confident he can do a job for your side as his work rate is second to none. Alongside him at 34 years of age and with 72 caps its German villa, he has a number of 20's for attributes like Tackling, Work Rate, Bravery and Anticipation. These two provide the engine room for your team and will never stop working. The sub for them is Gerardo Torrado, not great but will try his best.
Strikers
It was difficult to find the right two to play alongside each other but I went for the quick Omar Bravo and the Skillful Nery Castillo. Omar is 27 years old and has 49 caps with 11 goals, he is very determined and very quick. He is composed in front of goal and has good heading abilities for a small guy at only 5'7. Alongside him with 10 caps and 5 goals is Nery Castillo, Nery has good attributes in areas such as Dribbling, Acceleration, Agility, Pace, Stamina and Technique but again he is only 5'7 so the two guy's I picked were small but Mexico's style of short passing wont really affect the poor aerial ability of the attackers. On the bench you would then have Cuahtemoc Bravo, who is a very useful player who has 34 goals for his country. You have the great Paco Palencia, who is maybe past it but will give his all and you have the great Carlos Vela, the 18 year old maybe is not ready yet but is one for the future and will be a huge hit for his country I am sure.
Captain - Rafael Marquez
Most Exciting Player - Andres Guardado
Promising Youth - Sergio Arias - 19 Year Old Goal Keeper, Giovani dos Santos - 18 Year Old Attacking Midfielder Left/Right/Center, Carlos Vela - 18 Year Old Attacking Midfielder Center/Striker
My recommended Starting Eleven:
