Two nations looking to return to form will do battle today in an international friendly between Mexico and Costa Rica. The match scheduled for 6 p.m. ET will be held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and can be live streamed here free. Additional TV coverage can be found on ESPN2.
What They're Saying
Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado (via Medio Tiempo): "We players do not have to take that pressure. The pressure can bring the best out of Miguel [Herrera] as the head of the group, but we're a different group. The goal for us is a different one, and we do not need more pressure hitting us than it already is."
Costa Rica midfielder Johan Venegas (via Nacion): "We all know that Mexico likes to have possession. We have to be concentrated and organized tactically. We know that if we play at a high level, we are going to enter the Gold Cup well. That's all that matters at the end of the day."
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: As many as six Costa Rican players faced the possibility of missing Saturday's friendly due to visa issues, chief among them Joel Campbell. The 22-year-old returned to his more favored role as the team's No. 9 in the 2-1 loss to Spain, unlike his tenure at Villarreal where he made 16 appearances as a right midfielder in a 4-4-2, finishing with one goal.
Mexico's Projected Lineup (5-3-2): Ochoa; Aguilar, Reyes, Maza, Moreno, Layún; Herrera, Guardado, Santos; Chicharito, Vela
Costa Rica's Projected Lineup (5-3-2): Alvarado; Junior, Miller, Gonzalez, Umana, Gamboa; Cubero, Borges, Venegas; Campbell, Ruiz
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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