What do you do when you need a goal and your opponents aren't even using their midfielders? You put on an attacking player for one of your holding midfielders. Take notes, Bob Bradley! 'Chepo' Jose Manuel de la Torre has opted to take Israel Castro, a holding midfielder off the pitch, replacing him with striker Aldo de Nigris. Mexico will now operate with a very wide 4-4-2 diamond formation with only one real central midfielder - Gerardo Torrado - and they're unlikely to get punished for it. I'm not entirely sure that Guatemala knows what a midfield is.
Mexico Vs. Guatemala, 2011 Gold Cup Quarterfinals: Aldo De Nigris Enters For Israel Castro
An early second half goal from El Tri seems like something that is very likely to happen. Aldo de Nigris has already been very effective for Mexico off the bench in this tournament, and that’s independent of his very good season for Monterrey.
For more on the 2011 Gold Cup (Copa Oro), the Mexico vs. Guatemala match, and Mexican football in general, check out SB Nation’s Mexican football blog FMF State of Mind.
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