Mexico coach Javier Aguirre will stick with the team's three-prong attack for the World Cup match against France on Thursday, despite the problems the formation encountered against South Africa.
Aguirre is deploying three forwards who are told not to do too much work to regain possession, a strategy that South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has called the "most daring at the World Cup."
Mexico also sent its defenders surging forward, leaving the team exposed at the back. South Africa coped well, scoring the first goal and then hitting the post in the dying moments of the 1-1 draw on June 11 in the tournament's opening match at Soccer City.
"We knew that the danger would be on their counterattack, and that's a risk we take in our style of play," Mexico defender Rafael Marquez said Tuesday. "And yes, it caused some problems, but we're continuing to work on it so it doesn't happen again."
Aguirre came up with the attacking formation as a solution to the scoring problems Mexico had during the qualifiers. The coach began to use it in the friendlies leading up to the World Cup with good results - eight wins and two losses.
"It's what has brought us here and we're not going to change," Aguirre said. "Yes, we do leave a lot of space at the back, but we're going to continue this way."
Mexico has generated many scoring opportunities with its forwards and wingers but has trouble finishing.
"That's why we're training and working hard," Marquez said. "The Netherlands also isn't scoring and it's a big team. Germany has done well with four goals, but I'm confident that we're doing our best to fix this problem."
Marquez also said that he has completely recovered from a right calf injury, declaring himself fit to face France in Polokwane in their Group A match Thursday.
"I'm fine now ... at 100 percent," he said. "I've had trouble with the calf, and against South Africa I even was thinking of being taken off. But I've been able to recover over the past few days."
France has scored only one goal in its last three games, two friendlies and the first World Cup match against Uruguay that ended in a 0-0 draw. But Marquez said France is a dangerous team.
"They are very strong in attack and defense, even though in attack they are not living up to the level that we're accustomed to seeing," Marquez said. "But they have big players that can make the difference at any moment."
