Two games in the space of four days against Costa Rica could see Mexico qualify for CONCACAF´s Hexagonal on the road to Brazil 2014 with two matchdays to spare.

Mexico comes into the Costa Rica games off the back of a 1-0 defeat to the United States in the Estadio Azteca, but all indications suggest El Tri should collect six points. Coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre has an almost complete squad to work – aside from the absences of Giovani Dos Santos and Pablo Barrera – and Costa Rica´s form has been patchy in recent months. Nevertheless, the United States game showed Mexico that nothing can be taken for granted.

The squad

De la Torre produced no major surprises in his 23-man squad selection, but there were eight Olympic Gold medal winners included (five of those U-23s), indicating that there is a gradual generational shift occurring within the national team.

Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona, Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera

The old debate as to who should be in goal for Mexico continues to rage, with Ochoa impressing with Ajaccio in France and Corona a key factor in Mexico winning the Olympic Gold. Both have their negative sides, however. Ochoa has leaked some very stoppable shots while playing for Mexico and Corona has had problems before with his temperament.

Talavera remains a favorite for Chepo – his former coach at Toluca – although there have been growing calls for Monterrey´s Jonathan Orozco, Tijuana´s Cirilo Saucedo or Tigres´ Enrique Palos to be brought into the squad alongside Corona and Ochoa.

Corona played the last two qualifiers and, with the Olympic boost, there is no reason to believe he won´t start in goal.

Defenders: Israel Jimenez, Maza Rodriguez, Hector Moreno, Hugo Ayala, Hiram Mier, Jorge Torres Nilo, Darvin Chavez

There is an abundance of talented defenders in Mexico at present and the center back pairing of Rodriguez and Moreno remains one of the biggest positives Chepo has in this team. Add to that Ayala and Mier and the depth of quality should be obvious.

At left back, Torres Nilo has taken over comfortably from Carlos Salcido and Chavez proved in the Olympics that he is worthy cover in that department.

If there is a slight concern, it would be that nobody has really nailed down their place at right back for some time now. Monterrey´s Meza has been given the opportunity to prove himself there, but was at fault for the US goal last month in the Azteca and is still integrating himself into the squad.

Midfielders: Carlos Salcido, Gerardo Torrado, Jesus Zavala, Pablo Barrera, Elias Hernandez, Javier Aquino, Andres Guardado

Barrera suffered a cruciate ligament injury over the weekend that will keep in out, but with Aquino and Hernandez both flying at present, the absence shouldn´t be as damaging to El Tri as it potentially could´ve been.

The immediately striking detail is that there are only three central midfielders and one of them is Salcido, who has played at left back for most of his career. That, combined with the fact two left backs are in the squad, seems to suggest Chepo now sees Salcido exclusively as a central midfielder.

Torrado is also back in the squad after an absence, mainly through injury, of 12 months, providing the possibility of 32-year-old Salcido and 33-year-old Torrado manning Mexico´s midfield against Costa Rica.

Forwards: Angel Reyna, Oribe Peralta, Marco Fabian, Javier Hernandez, Aldo de Nigris

Despite lack of playing time at Manchester United and a less than brilliant display against the United States, Hernandez is likely to retain his starting spot. After 24 goals in 38 appearances for El Tri since breaking through in 2010, it is easy to see why Chepo should stand by the former Chivas player.

The question mark comes with who shoule occupy the number 10 role left vacant due to Dos Santos´ absence. Reyna played there somewhat unsuccessfully against the United States and Fabian is likely to get the nod after knocking on the door of the national team over the last couple of years.

The other option – more likely in the second game in Mexico – is to revert to a 4-4-2 and play both Chicarito and Peralta together upfront.

Possible starting eleven (4-2-3-1): Corona, Meza, Rodriguez, Moreno, Torres Nilo, Zavala, Salcido, Aquino, Fabian, Guardado, Hernandez.

Costa Rica

The Ticos lost their last game 1-0 at home in a friendly against Peru but before that had only fallen once in their previous ten games. That included wins against Venezuela and Guatemala and a draw against Spain. Just over 12 months ago, Costa Rica defeated the United States in the northern country, proving they can be a threat.

The loss of Fulham´s Bryan Ruiz to injury is a big blow to Costa Rica, but one look at Group B, and with the likelihood that El Salvador will gain six points in its matches against Guyana , shows you how important the games are to Costa Rica´s chances of qualifying for the Hexagonal.

Former Ticos player Hernan Medford summed it up: “For me, that game on September 7 is the one that will decide if we qualify, or not.”

The game will be played at the new Estadio Nacional in San Jose. The advantage for Mexico is that the field has natural grass, unlike the old national team venue that caused complaints from many a visiting team with its artificial turf.

Head-to-head: The stats heavily favor Mexico, with Costa Rica´s last win against El Tri coming back in 2001. Since then, over 90 minutes, Mexico has won six times and drawn three. Mexico hasn´t traditionally had a problem overcoming Costa Rica, unlike other Central American nations.

What to expect/prediction: Costa Rica would love to get three points out of the two games and is one of the few teams to have won at the Estadio Azteca, but is looks like being too difficult a challenge for the Ticos against this Mexico side.

A tight game should be expected in Costa Rica as the Central Americans realistically would view a draw as a good result at home, but Mexico should be able to get a narrow win. In the Azteca four days later, Mexico´s power going forward should be too much for Costa Rica. An early goal would be very welcome for El Tri and could cause a goalfest.

Source: Soccer365.com