While some teams will play several friendlies during the build-up to the World Cup at home, Mexico will play just one match at the Estadio Azteca, Wednesday against Israel. The match will serve as both a chance for Miguel Herrera to see his side in action, and a chance for fans to honor Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who will start the match.
Mexico vs. Israel, 2014 World Cup friendlies: Preview, TV schedule and how to watch online
Mexico will honor Cuauhtemoc Blanco in their only pre-World Cup friendly in Estadio Azteca.
Kevin C. Cox
Herrera has plenty of decisions to make before his team opens play in Brazil next month, as he tries to determine who will replace the injured Juan Carlos Medina on the right, and his first choice striker options at the top of his 3-5-2 formation. Herrea has four forwards currently with the squad -- Javier Hernandez, Oribe Peralta, Gio dos Santos, Raul Jimenez or Alan Pulido -- all of whom are hoping to lead El Tri in Brazil.
Yossi Benayoun will return to the Israeli squad after an absence of several months. Head coach Eli Gutman told the media Benayoun’s recent play earned him the call-up, and that he’ll become Isreal’s most capped player when he steps on the pitch at Azteca.
Projected lineup
Mexico: José de Jesús Corona; Héctor Moreno, Rafael Márquez, Francisco Rodríguez; Andrés Guardado, Luis Montes, Herrera, Carlos Peña, Miguel Layún; Oribe Peralta, Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Expect Blanco to be substituted off somewhat promptly. This is a warm-up for the World Cup, after all.
Match Date/Time: 8:30 p.m. local, 9:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
TV: ESPN2 (U.S. - English), UniMás (U.S. - Spanish), TDN (Mexico)
Online: WatchESPN (U.S.)
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