Mexico are set to kick off their U-20 World Cup campaign in New Zealand, going up against a tough Mali side. Mexico cruised through most of the U-20 CONCACAF Championship tournament that serves as the qualifying process in North America, and are absolutely loaded with talents both exceptional and intriguing. While it’s tough to pick out one favorite to win the World Cup because of the random nature of youth tournaments, Mexico would certainly be on the shortlist for consideration, though their group is a brutal one, including two good sides in Uruguay and Serbia.
Mexico vs. Mali, U-20 World Cup 2015: Time, TV schedule and team news
Mexico weren’t thrilled by their performance in the last U-20 World Cup, and are aiming for a strong start against Mali in their quest to improve this year.
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The last team in the group and the one Mexico is facing in this match might be the lesser of the four, but that doesn’t mean that Mali is any kind of pushover. The African side upset the odds and swept a difficult qualifying group that included runaway African qualifying favorites Ghana, and they’ll do everything they can to keep overcoming those odds and making life difficult for everyone they face. Mexico theoretically should be able to beat Mali with ease, but theory goes out the window once the first whistle blows and the ball is put in motion.
Key player -- Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
Lozano was a force in midfield for Mexico during the U-20 CONCACAF Championship win that earned Mexico their place in the final. He scored five goals to lead the tournament in scoring, but also provided a massive creative threat for Mexico and didn’t skimp on defensive performance. Lozano is an all-action dynamo who has been intriguing and exciting fans in Liga MX since joining Pachuca last year, and the 19-year-old will be the biggest threat for this Mexico side throughout the tournament. He’s well worth focusing on for those who enjoy dynamic young talents on the pitch, and could really force his way into international acclaim if he keeps doing well in the World Cup.
Key factor -- Technique and tactics versus sheer tenacity
Mexico got this far by winning the U-20 CONCACAF Championship, and they did it through tactical guile and technical flash, using smart plans, gifted players and fluid formations to outwit their opponents. It’s a great combination and might just carry them a long ways in this World Cup.
Mali, on the other hand, surprised much of Africa by winning their qualifying group, placing over favored Ghana and South Africa. They did it with a strong defense and dogged midfield, focused on denying space and keeping the opposition from executing their game plan. Mali’s attack isn’t as strong as many of the other sides in the U-20 World Cup, but their tactical setup is still one that will give many teams problems. The two styles are almost antithetical to each other, so seeing which team executes their gameplan better and gets the better of their foes will be a fascinating battle to watch.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET; Sunday, 1 p.m. local
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. -- English), Telemundo (U.S. -- Spanish), TSN3 (Canada), Azteca 7, UnivisionTDN (Mexico), ORTM Mali (Mali)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S. -- English), NBC Deportes en vivo Extra (U.S. -- Spanish)
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