Mexico (National Football)

Mexico and Uruguay will not be able to gently dip their toes in the Copa America Centenario water.

The two nations are instead jumping right in at the deep end, as they face each other on Sunday in an intriguing battle between the heavyweights in Group C.

Juan Carlos Osorio's perfect record as coach of El Tri will be tested at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

However, with striker Luis Suarez likely missing from Uruguay's side due to a right hamstring injury and Mexico unbeaten since last year's Copa in Chile, Osorio's squad go into the tournament opener full of confidence.

Ahead of the fixture, Bleacher Report has picked out three key battles that could decide the outcome.

Javier Hernandez vs. Uruguay's central defenders

Osorio is known to shuffle his pack when it comes to team selection. However, Javier Hernandez is one of the few players in the squad who is certain of a starting berth.

The forward arrived at the Copa fresh from a stellar debut season at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

Chicharito scored 17 Bundesliga goals for his club, with his form in front of goal one of the key factors in Leverkusen qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League.

Now Hernandez can do something special with his country, too.

He is closing in on a major personal achievement. His goal in the recent 1-0 friendly win over Chile took his international tally to 44, just two behind Jared Borgetti's all-time record for Mexico.

Tom Marshall of ESPN FC wrote on Hernandez's contribution to El Tri's cause:

It would also be a milestone that would be fully deserved. Hernandez has never shown anything other than a desperate desire to play and succeed for Mexico. There have been some lows along the way but Hernandez remains the worldwide standard bearer for Mexican football. And he carries out that particular unofficial ambassadorial role to perfection.

However, Chicharito—who is likely to play as the focal point in a front three—will have his work cut out against Uruguay's potential central defensive pairing of Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez.

Godin is a rock for both club and country. Squawka pointed out Godin's importance to Atletico Madrid in Europe:

Diego Godín made the most interceptions (38) and clearances (82) in the Champions League this season.

Born Leader. pic.twitter.com/r8JYjdYtTT

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 29, 2016

Gimenez, meanwhile, was a substitute in Atleti's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, with Stefan Savic picked ahead of him.

However, the 21-year-old still played a pivotal part in helping his side finish third in La Liga. According to WhoScored.com, he averaged 2.5 interceptions and 5.4 clearances in 27 domestic appearances in the 2015-16 campaign.

Godin and Gimenez know how to work well alongside each other. Hernandez has to somehow find a way to break through Uruguay's solid centre.

Rafael Marquez vs. Edinson Cavani

Marquez had a tricky season with Club Atlas (and that's putting it nicely).

ESPN FC's Tom Marshall suggested the defender was picked on reputation rather than form: "If someone came down from Mars to scout Mexico-eligible players during 2016 without any background on them, they would be unlikely to choose Marquez in the Copa America squad."

However, the former Barcelona player was not only selected to start in a 3-1-3-3 formation in the 1-0 friendly win over Paraguay, he also captained the side.

He did not feature in the following game against Chile—was Osorio just saving the veteran for Uruguay?

While he is now 37, Marquez is a ball-playing centre-back who can help build attacks from deep.

And, no matter what formation he goes with, Osorio tends to favour playing with a holding midfielder to offer protection to his defence.

Suarez's absence also makes life a little easier for Mexico, although Cavani can be a real handful to deal with (just ask Chile's Gonzalo Jara after last year's Copa America quarter-final).

For a man with a fine scoring reputation of his own, Cavani has played second fiddle to others for both club and country.

The 29-year-old may get top billing at Paris Saint-Germain next season now Zlatan Ibrahimovic is heading for pastures new.

He will certainly be Uruguay's lead man in the absence of Suarez who, according to Luis F. Rojo and Simon Harrison of Marca, may not be fit to return until the quarter-final stage.

But can he prosper without his partner in crime? French football expert Jonathan Johnson told Bleacher Report's Rik Sharma that he has his doubts: "In my opinion, Suarez is more important to Uruguay's chance of success than Cavani, but in order to win this summer's Copa America, Los Charruas will need both."

Cavani—who scored twice in the 3-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on May 28—poses a different threat. While he doesn't quite create the same problems as Suarez with his movement, he is a presence up top.

Marquez—if selected—will need to stand his ground if it becomes a physical battle.

Speed vs. Experience

Admittedly it is a generic title for the final key battle, but that's mainly down to the tinkering Osorio selecting his teams with specific opponents in mind.

While it is dangerous to guess who the Colombian picks to flank lead forward Hernandez, the options in the squad provide one consistent asset—speed.

Journalist Cesar Hernandez confirmed as much for ESPN FC: "A quick look at Mexico's roster reveals that El Tri has an immense amount of pace in attack. Players like Javier Aquino, Hirving Lozano, Jurgen Damm and Jose Manuel Corona all have a devastating amount of speed, which will be useful against opponents like Venezuela or Jamaica."

Lozano—a late arrival to the United States due to club commitments back home—has a chance to impress more than just his compatriots.

According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Premier League giants Manchester United have been monitoring the Pachuca player.

As for Uruguay, their last competitive fixture, a 1-0 win over Peru in a World Cup qualifier on March 30, saw Maximiliano and Alvaro Pereira picked in the full-back positions.

Jorge Fucile is also an option to fill one of the wide berths in the back four.

Whoever starts at right and left back, Uruguay will be experienced. The trio named have a combined age of 92.

That means we will see wise old heads go up against Mexico's youth policy. Lozano is 20, Corona and Damm are 23 while Aquino is the old man of the quartet at the ripe old age of 26.

Games are often said to be won and lost in the engine room of midfield, but Mexico's clash with Uruguay could be settled on the wings.

Who do you think wins the battle of the big guns in Group C? Have your say via the comments section.

Uruguay has posted six wins in their past seven games but are plus-195 Copa America underdogs against Mexico at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark; this comes despite claiming clean sheet victories in their past two meetings.

Mexico has not surrendered a goal during an eight-game win streak and is undefeated in their past 12 games, earning them plus-155 odds in their tournament opener.

Match Odds: Mexico +155, Uruguay +195, Draw +210

Uruguay will have their hands full when they kick off the Copa America Centenario as plus-195 underdogs in a matchup with their primary Group C rival, Mexico.

La Celeste has won a record 15 Copa America titles, most recently raising the hardware in 2011, and have looked respectable in recent international tourneys, reaching the round of 16 in both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2013 Confederations Cup before winning gold at last year's Pan American Games.

The Uruguayans have also enjoyed recent success against Mexico, handing them defeats at both the 2011 Copa America and the 2010 World Cup, knotting their head-to-head record at 3-3-3 in nine clashes since 1966.

Luis Suarez is expected to play a key role in any success Uruguay has this time around.

The superstar striker potted an eye-popping 40 goals in La Liga action with Barcelona this past season and has been a consistent performer in international play. Suarez has tallied 10 goals in his last 15 with the Uruguay national team and trails only Lionel Messi with plus-550 odds to be the tourney's leading goal scorer.

But finding the back of the net against Mexico will be an enormous task.

El Tricolor has not surrendered a marker since settling for a 2-2 draw in a friendly against Argentina last September, outscoring opponents 15-0 in eight victories since, including a 1-0 win over defending Copa America champions Chile in a pre-tournament matchup on Thursday night.

The side's current tear has fueled their rise on the Copa America Centenario Group C future odds, where they have emerged a slim minus-110 chalk to finish atop that table after trailing Uruguay at the sportsbooks in recent weeks.

It has been nine years since Mexico last claimed a win in Copa America action, going 0-2-4 in six contests since 2007 when they finished third in the tournament, but they are getting serious attention as a dark horse this time around. That's reflected in their Copa America championship odds, which have climbed to plus-1100.

Mexico vs. Uruguay Prediction: Mexico 2-1

All betting lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. Check out the latest Copa America news.

If you study the form guide, Mexico are the horse to back in the Copa America Centenario.

El Tri heads into the tournament on a 19-match unbeaten run. Manager Juan Carlos Osorio has won seven on the spin since taking charge at the end of 2015, with his side scoring 14 goals without conceding.

It has been smooth sailing for the Colombian to date. However, the calm water is about to get a little choppy.

Mexico kick off their Copa campaign against Uruguay on Sunday. The game, staged at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is a clash between the two favourites to move on from Group C.

Although they would both still face Jamaica and Venezuela—the other two nations in the group—an opening win would do more than just lay down a marker.

If Mexico and Uruguay make it through to the knockout stage as expected, they would likely face a quarter-final tie against either Argentina or Chile.

Pick your poison, gents.

The likely absence of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez will help Osorio’s side on Sunday. The talismanic striker is struggling with a right hamstring injury he picked up in Barcelona's Copa del Rey win over Sevilla on May 22.

According to Luis F. Rojo and Simon Harrison of Marca, Suarez may not feature until the quarter-final stage.

La Celeste are far from just a one-man team, though. Edinson Cavani—who has scored 32 goals for his country—will lead the line in Suarez’s expected absence.

But, as pointed out by Thomas Hautmann of Fox Soccer, Uruguay are built on solid foundations at the back:

Defence and organisation have long been the hallmark of Uruguay's play, and key to the team's 2011 Copa America title run and fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup. With [Diego] Godin, his Atletico Madrid team-mate Jose Gimenez, and Porto's Maxi Pereira in the veteran backline, Uruguay will continue to keep games close enough to give them a chance to win.

Godin and Gimenez were part of a seriously stingy defence at Atletico. OptaPaolo tweeted the statistics:

24 - Atletico collected the most clean sheets (24) in the Liga 15/16, Real Madrid 14 (4th team). Defence. #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/mbFpNzlomS

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 27, 2016

However, Mexico have enough attacking talent to pose a threat to any national team.

According to Tom Marshall of ESPN FC, El Tri could use a three-man forward line against Uruguay:

A 4-3-3 appears to be the likely choice and is Osorio's most commonly-used formation, even if a Marcelo Bielsa-style 3-4-3 was employed to good effect in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Paraguay. Osorio has also played with a 5-2-3 and a 4-4-2 in his time in charge.

Marshall’s article finished with a predicted XI against Uruguay that featured a front trio of Hirving Lozano, Javier Hernandez and Jesus Manuel Corona.

Receiving a break from his club commitments in Europe with Porto, Corona played 57 minutes against Chile.

Due to him helping Pachuca to the Liga MX title at home, Lozano was a late arrival in the United States.

Asked Osorio about when Hirving Lozano will arrive. He just replied he will be ready for the game against Uruguay.

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) May 31, 2016

At just 20, this could be the tournament for the speedy Lozano to make a major impact at international level.

In an April article from Jack Gaughan for Mail Online, experienced scout Neil McGuinness summarised Lozano's game to Sportsmail by saying: "Quick, powerful strike, the ability to drop his marker and find five yards of space, in short he can affect games out of nothing."

European clubs take note—Lozano is a player of real potential.

Jurgen Damm and Javier Aquino are also options to occupy the wide forward positions. Osorio has options, and he isn’t afraid to use them.

With Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri no longer considered "The Tinkerman"—a nickname he received for constantly changing his XI during his time at Chelsea—it seems Osorio can assume the title.

He will be flexible in his formation, depending on the opposition.

However, there is no tinkering when it comes to Mexico’s man in the middle of the forward line.

After coming on as a late substitute against Chile, Hernandez showed his value by netting a game-winning goal in the 86th minute.

Chicharito is fresh off a stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen.

He bagged 17 league goals in his debut campaign in the Bundesliga—only Bayern Munich duo Robert Lewandowski (30) and Thomas Muller (20) and Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (25) scored more in Germany’s top flight.

In celebrating his 28th birthday by scoring against Chile, Hernandez moved within two goals of Jared Borgetti’s national record of 46.

He is the focal point for his country, a clinical marksman who dazzled as the lead man in Germany following peripheral roles at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Yet the key to Mexico’s attacking play is pace and space.

Take a look at the goal they scored in the 1-0 victory against Paraguay on Saturday:

Gool de Mex .!!!  #eltri #mexico #miseleccionmx pic.twitter.com/Kd5kJCjMKi

— Alex.⚽️ (@mundo_defutbol) May 28, 2016

The ball over the top from Jesus Duenas was outstanding, but he only able to seize this opportunity because of Damm’s willingness to stay wide and attack the space offered to him by Paraguay’s high line.

Whoever plays out wide, their task will be to stretch the opposition and provide service for Chicharito.

Osorio often chooses to employ a defensive midfielder to offer protection to his central defenders. If he goes with a back four, as expected, the full-backs will get the chance to push on and provide width.

Mexico may need strength in numbers when you consider Uruguay’s defence is such a tough nut to crack.

Godin and Jimenez are about as good as it gets right now for a central-defensive pairing.

Alvaro Gonzales and Pereira, an experienced pair of full-backs who have a combined 190 caps, will likely join them.

They've seen it all before at the international level, so don't expect them to be sucked up field too often, as it would give Mexico's speedsters space to run.

The battle down the flanks between Mexico's youth—Lozano is 20, Corona and Damm are both 23 while Aquino is 26—and Uruguay's experience will be fascinating to watch.

In a game between two solid defences, don’t be surprised if it takes just one goal to settle a pivotal clash on the opening weekend of the tournament.

As Victor Frankenstein found out, experiments can do more harm than good. For Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio, however, tinkering is the only way he can create a footballing monster for this year's Copa America Centenario.

Osorio, like Frankenstein, the lead character in Mary Shelley's novel, is happy to experiment, albeit on a football field rather than in a laboratory.

Since taking charge, the Colombian has had the chance to assess his players while steering Mexico to six straight wins. Admittedly the fixtures have been against weaker opposition, but they have scored 13 goals in his short tenure and conceded none.

Paraguay were their latest victims on Saturday, as a first-half goal from Andres Guardado secured a 1-0 victory at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

On Wednesday, El Tri's Copa America preparations continue with a friendly against reigning champions Chile at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

For Osorio, it is a chance to mix things up again, certainly with personnel and possibly in terms of formation.

He has, more often than not, used a 4-3-3 system since taking charge.

However, against Paraguay, he showed his flexibility by deploying three at the back and Jesus Molina as a deep-lying midfielder.

Jon Arnold of Goal explained the reason behind the switch: "With some players yet to join up with the group and others still regaining form after recently concluded seasons, the manager elected to flex from his normal 4-3-3 formation."

Osorio is also aware of the potential need for change depending on a specific opponent, too. The clash with Chile could be a dress rehearsal for a knockout tie at the Copa America. Depending on where they finish in their respective groups, the nations could meet again as early as the quarter-finals.

Per Tom Marshall of ESPNFC, Mexico's coach said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday: "We always keep the rival and their tactical structure and playing idea in mind. It is difficult to keep a (fixed) eleven."

Marshall pointed out in the same story that Osorio tried four different XIs during the final training session, although he added the coach is "known for not giving much away" when the press are able to watch.

Journalist Cesar Hernandez tweeted out two of the lineups used during practice:

Mexico red team in training. Talavera, Aguilar, Araujo, Yasser, JTN, Molina, Ochoa, Gullit, Raul, Chicharito, Damm

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) May 31, 2016

Mexico green team in training. Chuy Corona, Dueñas, Rafa, Moreno, Layun, Tecatito, Herrera, Reyes, Guardado, Aquino, Oribe

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) May 31, 2016

Predicting the team Osorio will choose is an even tougher challenge now his squad has grown in size. 

Jesus Corona, Miguel Layun, Hector Herrera, Raul Jimenez and Diego Reyes have all joined up with the national team following their exploits for teams in Europe. Hirving Lozano is yet to even arrive in the U.S. after helping Pachuca secure the Liga MX title in Mexico.

Osorio has a juggling act on his hands to make sure every member of his party is physically ready for the Copa opener with Uruguay on Sunday.

However, that is just part of the life of a national team manager. Preparation time is limited and every friendly fixture is a crucial opportunity to work with the players, both on an individual basis and in terms of team structure. A game against holders Chile is an ideal test on the eve of the Copa America.

According to Goal's Arnold, El Tri's coach believes he has enough quality at his disposal to follow in La Roja's footsteps and lift the trophy in 2016:

Chile has a great team with lot of opportunities and I reiterate my statement that it'll be a great opponent for us and it's going to have a very good level of play.

It's not a coincidence that they won the Copa America, and surely it'll be in the minds of the manager and players to repeat, but there are others with the chance to win as well, and I would include Mexico in that.

Osorio has every right to be bullish about Mexico's chances.

Their squad has strength in depth and, in Javier Hernandez, a forward who can suddenly change a game with a goal. Their recent defensive record suggests they are solid at the back, too.

Chicharito is a certain starter in the Copa. Others, though, cannot be so sure of their places in the XI that will take to the field against Uruguay at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Therefore, the clash with Chile takes on extra significance for some.

As for Osorio, it is one last opportunity to experiment.

If he can work out the right formula, a Mexico side with excellent chemistry could be monstrous at the Copa. Get it wrong, though, and things could turn uglier than Frankenstein's creation.

A win and a clean sheet. In terms of preparation for the upcoming Copa America Centenario, Mexico’s 1-0 win over Paraguay went pretty much to plan.

El Tri scored a wonderful team goal in the first half to settle a contest that, overall, will not live too long in the memory.

Jesus Duenas’ pass over the top perfectly picked out the run down the right flank by Jurgen Damm, who was able to carry the ball infield, drawing goalkeeper Justo Villar in the process.

Rather than shooting, Damm unselfishly squared the ball to the supporting Andres Guardado, who only had to tap home beyond a defender desperately trying to get back and cover the unguarded net.

Gool de Mex .!!!  #eltri #mexico #miseleccionmx pic.twitter.com/Kd5kJCjMKi

— Alex.⚽️ (@mundo_defutbol) May 28, 2016

The incisive play for the goal wasn’t in keeping with the rest of the game.

However, an international friendly right before a major tournament is always a tricky prospect.

For some, it is a chance to make a late impression before the serious stuff begins.

For those who are already certain of a starting berth and are only concerned with coming through the contest unscathed, it is a case of self-preservation while maintaining match fitness.

As for Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio, the result kept his winning streak going. Since taking charge toward the end of 2015, the Colombian's side has won six on the spin without conceding.

A toothless Paraguay side rarely threatened to end the run of clean sheets.

Reigning Copa champions Chile, who Mexico face in a friendly on Wednesday, should provide a sterner test, and it will be interesting to see whether Osorio continues to employ a back three, as he did against La Albirroja at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The linchpin in the middle of the defence against Paraguay was Rafael Marquez, a wise old head who has—to put it kindly—had a tricky time of it at Club Atlas.

Rafael Marquez given the start and captain's armband for Mexico today

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) May 28, 2016

However, in winning his 130th cap for his country, the 37-year-old proved that while club form can be temporary, international class is permanent.

In awarding Marquez a 7.5 out of 10 in his match ratings, Cesar Hernandez of ESPN FC wrote: "Like it or not, the 37-year-old had a good game for Mexico. Marquez easily controlled the backline and almost scored a goal for Mexico off a header early in the match."

Marquez is not in the team to score goals; he's there to help prevent them at the other end of the field.

The performance of one of Mexico’s wise old heads will have pleased Osorio, who has shown faith in the player based on his international pedigree rather than recent club performances.

Marquez has no doubt had tougher tests defensively—Paraguay were relatively poor, and Osorio employed Jesus Molina as a deep-lying midfielder to screen the defence.

But as Tom Marshall pointed out on ESPN FC, there is no certainty El Tri will be set up in a similar formation for their next game, let alone the next few weeks:

In Osorio's six games in charge of Mexico so far, he has used at least four distinct tactical approaches. The team isn't conceding goals and is winning games. Although the major tests lie in ahead at the Copa, it all bodes well moving forward.

As for the Copa America, opposition coaches will likely have little clue how Osorio will line up for each of the matches.

Only Osorio knows whether Marquez is part of Mexico’s defensive foundations or just a squad member there to be called upon when required.

What he offers is a calm head combined with a classy playmaker who can build attacks from deep. Indeed, Duenas' pass to set up the winning goal against Paraguay was one Marquez has made on plenty of occasions through the years.

The former Monaco and Barcelona defender has barely featured for the national team of late.

He was recalled for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Canada on March 25 but played just 45 minutes of his side’s 3-0 triumph.

Yet when it comes to the Copa, Marquez could find himself a central figure for El Tri once again.

Mexico have high hopes of winning the competition for the first time at the 10th attempt. The draw has not been too kind, though—they are in Group C alongside Uruguay, their first opponents on June 5.

They will still expect to progress at the expense of Jamaica and Venezuela, the other nations in the pool.

However, the schedule then sees them play one of the top two from Group D. If it goes to form, that will mean a quarter-final tie against either Argentina or Chile.

Still, Mexico are a team to be feared.

They are on an 18-match unbeaten run and have a wealth of playing resources, giving Osorio the kind of headache a coach craves.

It will be fascinating to see whether Marquez is selected to face a Uruguay side that might include the potent pairing of Luis Suarez (fitness permitting) and Edinson Cavani.

El Tri have twice been the bridesmaid at the Copa yet never the bride. Marquez wasn't around for the 2-1 final defeat to Argentina in 1993, but he was part of the squad that lost 1-0 to Colombia in 2001, although he did not feature in the game.

A year later, however, he was captaining his nation at the 2002 World Cup.

Marquez had the armband again on Saturday. The sands of time have obviously slowed the body. The mind, though, is still more than willing.

He could play a key part in Mexico’s campaign, marshalling a back three, four or five, depending on how the tinkering Osorio chooses to line up for each different opponent.

When asked about his side's chances in the Copa, Marquez said, per FourFourTwo: "Within the team there is a commitment of wanting to win, to fight with everything and make the final of the competition."

Marquez knows what it takes make the final of the competition. He will also know that, with the next Copa not scheduled until 2019, this is likely to be his last chance at glory.

Who do you think will win the Copa America Centenario?

Argentina—beaten in the 2015 final—and Brazil will always pop up as the main options in your mind, even though they've only lifted the trophy just once between them in the last three editions.

Uruguay—winners in 2011—and holders Chile surely deserve serious consideration, too, particularly when you take into account the star quality they possess in attack.

But what if the 100th anniversary of the tournament saw a new champion crowned?

Step forward Mexico. Twice the bridesmaid but never the bride, there are genuine reasons for Juan Carlos Osorio's squad to be optimistic ahead of their 10th appearance in the event.

Ahead of Saturday's friendly with Paraguay, Bleacher Report examines some of Mexico's major plus points ahead of the 2016 Copa in June.

The Case For the Defence

El Tri were a major disappointment in the 2015 Copa. Minus some of their star names, they failed to even get out of Group A.

After contrasting draws against Bolivia and Chile—the first game saw barely a threat of a goal, while they shared six with the eventual champions—they tumbled out with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Ecuador.

Since that early exit (they finished bottom of the table), Mexico have compiled a 17-game unbeaten run.

Former manager Miguel Herrera, who was sacked after winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July 2015, started the run before his exit. Interim boss Ricardo Ferretti kept the streak alive before Osorio took charge in October.

The Colombian has made a perfect start in the job. In five games, Mexico have scored 12 goals and conceded none.

Solid foundations in defence are the base for success at international level.

Yet the five successive clean sheets do come with some small print. While shutout wins are impressive, you have to take into consideration the standard of the opposition.

Osorio has so far faced El Salvador, Honduras, Senegal and Canada (twice). Hardly a murderers' row of national teams.

The coach now has to make some tough decisions over team selection, starting with who plays in goal.

Guillermo Ochoa has not played for his country since their successful Gold Cup campaign, yet he finds himself part of the Copa squad.

Jose de Jesus Corona and Alfredo Talavera are the other options, but two out of the three are going to be disappointed.

Tom Marshall of ESPN FC said Osorio faces a tricky decision over the identity of his No. 1: "This time around, it seems as if Talavera has moved ahead of Corona in the pecking order, but it is anyone's guess as to how Ochoa fits in. After waiting over 18 months at Malaga just to get a debut in La Liga, Ochoa started the final 10 games of the season and was generally impressive."

Whoever starts, Mexico's defensive solidity will be tested in the upcoming friendlies. After Paraguay at the weekend, they then go up against Chile on Thursday.

Those two fixtures will be the perfect test for those supposedly solid foundations at the back. It is time to find out if Mexico's Copa bid is built on cement or sand.

Leadership Qualities

The early signs have been promising under Osorio, a well-travelled coach who once worked for English Premier League side Manchester City as a strength and conditioning expert.

He's come a long way since those days on Kevin Keegan's staff.

Having previously been employed by clubs in Brazil, Colombia, England, Mexico and the United States, Osorio now has the chance to impress on a major stage.

After Mexico announced their new boss, Ives Galarcep of Goal wrote: "If Osorio can develop a good working relationship with his new bosses, the Mexico job could be a perfect fit for him. It is easily the biggest job of his career, and just the kind of opportunity he has spent decades dreaming of."

The opening months of Osorio's reign have been positive.

After four games of their qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Mexico have a perfect record. Osorio has also had a chance to assess his options.

Now, though, he needs to work out who exactly is in his first-choice team. The honeymoon period is about to end.

Giovani Dos Santos will definitely not be in the best XI. The LA Galaxy forward declined the chance to represent his country again, leaving Mexico without one of their most experienced—not to mention most talented—players for the Copa America.

However, Mexico can still flourish without both Dos Santos and Carlos Vela, who was left out of the squad after a disappointing season for Real Sociedad in Spain.

Ryan Rosenblatt of Fox Soccer feels El Tri have tremendous strength in depth: "There's a reason Mexico are so excited heading into Copa America Centenario. They are exceedingly talented, and a real threat to win the tournament. One look at the roster makes that abundantly clear."

Goal USA editor Thomas Floyd agreed with Rosenblatt's assessment on Twitter:

No Giovani dos Santos or Carlos Vela for Mexico's Copa America team. And you know what? That front line still looks stacked.

— Thomas Floyd (@ThomasFloyd) May 17, 2016

Osorio has had time to get his feet under the table, but early success will be buried by a below-par Copa campaign. The heat is on.

The Focal Point

Javier Hernandez did not play in Mexico's last Copa campaign.

However, the striker goes into this year's competition off the back of a stunning debut season with Bayer Leverkusen.

Chicharito scored 17 Bundesliga goals. With each one, he added ammunition to the argument that Manchester United gave up on him too easily.

While former Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal didn't want to make use of Hernandez's clinical finishing and willingness to work hard during his tenure at Old Trafford, Mexico will relish having their star available in the United States.

The 27-year-old also finds himself on the verge of breaking a major milestone for his country.

He has so far managed 43 goals for Mexico, leaving him just three back of all-time leading scorer Jared Borgetti. It is quite possible Hernandez could be sitting on top of the pile before the end of the summer.

However, as he told Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times, his biggest concern is helping Mexico to glory: "If I break it [the record], fine. If I don't, it's going to be fine for me because it's not what I dreamed about. What I dreamed about was to play in the World Cup with my country and to try to win one. But that record is there. And if I beat it or not, only God and time will tell."

Hernandez may not need any help from above to reach the landmark. But, at his age, he does have plenty of time on his side.

https://twitter.com/MexicoStats_Tri/status/734930547080843264

Home From Home

The U.S. may be hosting the Copa America Centenario, but Mexico will feel right at home during the event.

El Tri's loyal fans are already turning up in huge numbers just to watch their team's pre-tournament friendlies, according to journalist Tom Marshall on Twitter:

Close to 60,000 tickets already sold for Mexico vs. Paraguay this Saturday in Atlanta.

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) May 24, 2016

Mexico's three Group C games in the Copa are staged in Glendale (against Uruguay), Pasadena (Jamaica) and Houston (Venezuela). The Mexican fanbase will swell the attendance figures in all three locations.

With strength in depth on the field and the vocal support of their compatriots in the crowd, Mexico have all the ingredients required for success.

The Mexico men's national football team's match against Senegal on Wednesday night at Marlins Park was used by manager Juan Carlos Osorio to evaluate the players on the fringe of the first team and the young players coming through the system.

El Tri may not have played the sexiest match of football, but a few players were able to put their talents on display in Miami to leave a positive impression on the new Mexico boss.

The player who shined the brightest in the 2-0 victory over Senegal was 20-year-old Pachuca star Hirving Lozano. In his debut for the senior team, Lozano posed a constant threat to the Senegal back four on the left and right sides of the pitch.

Unfortunately, the young attacker had to wait until the 87th minute to contribute to a goal, when he distributed a ball into the middle of the penalty area for club teammate Rodolfo Pizarro to finish off.

Lozano's emergence may not directly influence the first team when they take to the pitch to play Canada in a pair of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on March 25 and 29, but it could have a major impact on the squad that heads to Rio 2016 Olympics.

Not only is 2016 a massive year for the first team with World Cup qualifying and the Copa America Centenario, but El Tri are looking to make their mark at the youth level with a second consecutive Olympic gold medal.

The 2012 Olympic squad featured the likes of Hector Herrera, Diego Reyes, Raul Jimenez and Giovani Dos Santos. If Lozano were to extend his form into the summer, he could find himself in a key role for El Tri in their quest to repeat.

In addition to Lozano, Pizarro and Candido Ramirez made immediate impacts off the bench in Wednesday's victory. Within minutes of entering the pitch, Ramirez provided an assist on the opener netted by Jesus Duenas, while Pizarro was on the receiving end of Lozano's assist in the 87th minute.

Due to the immense talent ahead of them on the depth chart that includes Dos Santos, Jimenez, Carlos Vela, Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez, the trio of impressive youngsters may not crack the 23-man squad for the first team anytime soon. But if one of the star attackers were to suffer an injury or dip in form, Osorio now has plenty of options to chose from to replace that player.

Duenas was the standout star in midfield for El Tri as he commanded the middle of the park and broke through a pair of defenders to score in the 73rd minute. The 26-year-old from Tigres in Liga MX could be selected as an overage player for the Olympic roster, or he could end up providing El Tri with more depth at the position in the matches leading into the Copa America Centenario.

Despite all the positives shown by the young players in the Mexico lineup on Wednesday, the concerns about who will replace the first-team defenders remained. Yasser Corona provided us with a blooper reel of errors, while Nestor Araujo and Gerardo Flores didn't impress a ton.

Many fans wanted Carlos Salcedo to see significant playing time on Wednesday. He didn't do anything wrong in his appearance off the bench, but the 22-year-old didn't face a challenge in the second half from the Senegal attack due to Mexico's dominance in possession.

Although it was a friendly that witnessed little cohesion from Mexico as a unit, Osorio was able to get a read on who from Wednesday's squad will be key contributors in 2016. With three crucial events ahead over the next six months, Osorio will need young players like Lozano to make some kind of impact throughout the year for 2016 to be judged as a success across all levels of Mexican football. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Mexico will be without their key Europe-based players for Wednesday's Miami friendly with Senegal, but it should still be a valuable match for manager Juan Carlos Osorio.

As it is taking place outside the designated FIFA window, the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez, Real Sociedad's Carlos Vela and Hector Herrera of FC Porto have not been released by their clubs, while LA Galaxy's Giovani dos Santos will also not be involved.

But as preparation for March's World Cup qualifiers against Canada, facing off against a decent Senegal side will give Mexico's younger and less experienced players vital game time for the national team.

Here are all the scheduling, television and live streaming details for the Marlins Park clash in Florida, along with a preview.

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 10

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 a.m. GMT (Feb. 11)

TV Info: Live on Fox Sports 1 (US only)

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Preview 

Back in November, Mexico and Osorio made an excellent start to their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with victories over El Salvador and Honduras.

However, the Colombian manager is only in the early stages of his new job and is still getting to know his players, hence the need for Wednesday's friendly.

Here is the squad that he has put together for the clash, per the national team's Twitter feed:

¡Un equipo que dejará todo en la cancha, para buscar la victoria ante @FootballSenegal!https://t.co/837qemplZH pic.twitter.com/fjc4G26ZxV

— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) February 4, 2016

There are no players from Liga MX side Club America—thus no Oribe Peralta—and just one player, 22-year-old Carlos Salcedo, from Chivas after the Guadalajara outfit refused to release any more of their squad, per ESPN FC's Tom Marshall.

Salcedo joins a quartet of exciting youngsters, which also includes Pachuca trio Hirving Lozano, Erick Gutierrez and Rodolfo Pizarro.

Marshall told the Mexican Soccer Show upon the announcement of the squad that he was excited to see the four of them get their opportunities:

At the other end of the spectrum, 34-year-old goalkeeper Alejandro Palacios received his first call up to the Mexico side and will be looking to make a claim for more regular spot against the Senegalese.

Senegal's last outings also came in November when they drew away at Madagascar before beating them 3-0 at home in African World Cup qualifying.

However, they will be missing key players like Mame Biram Diouf and Sadio Mane from the Premier League and will, much like Mexico, field a severely weakened side.

Given the strange nature of both the squads it is difficult to predict how the Florida clash will play out, but Osorio will undoubtedly be looking to his squad to seize their opportunity and produce a good performance.

There are potential places up for grabs for the Canada clashes, so there should be no lack of motivation for any of the Mexico side.

Less than five months after taking the job, Juan Carlos Osorio has left Sao Paulo, and the 53-year-old will succeed Miguel Herrera as the permanent Mexico national team coach, per ESPN FC.

Despite Osorio's relative inexperience in either national team or Mexican football, his hiring doesn't come as a major surprise. In late September, he admitted coaching Mexico would help him fulfill one of his career goals.

"I believe that we all try to become the best prepared possible for when an opportunity arrives," Osorio said, per ESPN FC's Tom Marshall. "Mexico is an elite national team, that could go to the World Cup. And I want to go to a World Cup. For any manager, to go to a World Cup, is attractive. The highest point in a sporting career, for a manager."

Osorio had a brief spell at Puebla in Liga MX, which began in November 2011 and ended in March 2012. As football journalist Juan Arango posited, Osorio is a relative unknown for followers of the Mexico national team:

Funny to hear the Mexican press talk about Osorio... many have NO CLUE who he is or what he's done as a coach.

— Juan Arango (@JuanG_Arango) October 6, 2015

American soccer fans will remember Osorio from his time with the Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. MLSSoccer.com's Matthew Doyle views his joining El Tri as good news for the United States national team:

Amazing. The 2009 RBNY season is legitimately one of the worst in @MLS history. JCO is the right man for El Tri!https://t.co/83pWPsaJJM

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) October 6, 2015

Obviously given the timing, Osorio won't coach Mexico in the CONCACAF Confederations Cup playoff against the U.S. this Saturday. Ricardo Ferretti will lead the squad for the match before making way for Osorio.

Osorio's most important task will be navigating Mexico through the fourth round of 2018 World Cup qualifying and then helping them advance past the "Hex," the stage at which the country nearly bowed out ahead of the 2014 World Cup.   

Anything less than qualification for 2018 will constitute a failure for Osorio and likely lead to his firing. And in the event Mexico begin the fourth round a bit slowly, don't be surprised if he is already on the hot seat.