Dangermen to look out for from Mexico

With Bafana Bafana’s World Cup opener against co-hosts Mexico edging closer, KickOff looks at three players they will need to keep their eyes locked on if they are to emerge with a positive result from the game.

Hugo Broos’ side, ranked 60th in the world, are set to face a tough assignment against North America’s most successful football nation, who are positioned 15th. This will be a repeat of the opening game of the 2010 edition held in South Africa.

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The 35-year-old not only brings leadership and experience to his side but is a football icon in his homeland. Jimenez, who scored nine Premier League goals for Fulham last season, famously overcame a fractured skull in 2020 and many thought he would never play again, but here he is and likely to play a big role for his nation in a home World Cup, which could be his international career swansong.

He may not be the most prolific in front of goal but has good ability to get the best out of his teammates, like former France striker Olivier Giroud did.

The man who plays for and captains Italian club Genoa is likely to be at the heart of defence for Mexico against Bafana. He will be tasked to stop attacks from the likes of Lyle Foster and Teboho Mokoena. Playing in the Serie A, which is one of the most defensively orientated leagues in the world, Vasques will boast a lot of defensive organization and Broos and his troops will need to come up with a good plan to breach the opposition backline.

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Based on what is known, Lira, who plays for and captains Cruz Azul in Mexico, will likely start in the heart of midfield against Bafana. He will be tasked with helping his nation efficiently move the ball from defence to attack. If the 26-year-old has a bad game, it could affect the entire flow of the game for Javier Aguirre’s side, which will be good news for Bafana.

Lira is known for recovering the ball well and having an intense style of play in duels. He is tactically astute but still does lack experience playing against the best in the business on a regular basis. The Bafana attacking unit will back themselves to get the better of him.