MEXICO CITY — Alexis Vega said the quiet part out loud on Tuesday morning.
"Who wouldn't want to see Memo Ochoa?" he said during Mexico's media availability at el Centro de Alto Rendimiento. "He's a legend. But that's a decision that El Vasco will have to make tomorrow."
Such is the question facing manager Javier Aguirre 24 hours ahead of the group stage finale against Czechia. Does he give Ochoa the nod, a symbolic sendoff for the 40-year-old national icon playing in his sixth World Cup? Or does he stick with the bulk of the lineup that he's rolled with for the first two games, giving them one more chance to finally gel before the knockout rounds?
Nevermind the fact that Czechia's playing to avoid elimination. Nevermind the fact that Mexico's chasing history; if El Tri beats Nároďák, they'll finish off a sweep of Group A and accumulate nine points for the first time in the country's 18 World Cup appearances.
Aguirre fielded several questions from the press at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday afternoon that boiled down to his plans for the lineup — and for Ochoa — in one way or another. El Vasco kept his cards close to his chest, but did shed light on a couple other matters: he'll "protect" Brian Gutiérrez to keep the talented midfielder from potentially picking up a second yellow card and risking a suspension for the Round of 32, and César Montes will be back on the pitch after missing the South Korea match due to a careless red card in stoppage time in the opener against South Africa.
"Who wouldn't want to see Memo Ochoa?" he said during Mexico's media availability at el Centro de Alto Rendimiento. "He's a legend. But that's a decision that El Vasco will have to make tomorrow."
Such is the question facing manager Javier Aguirre 24 hours ahead of the group stage finale against Czechia. Does he give Ochoa the nod, a symbolic sendoff for the 40-year-old national icon playing in his sixth World Cup? Or does he stick with the bulk of the lineup that he's rolled with for the first two games, giving them one more chance to finally gel before the knockout rounds?
Nevermind the fact that Czechia's playing to avoid elimination. Nevermind the fact that Mexico's chasing history; if El Tri beats Nároďák, they'll finish off a sweep of Group A and accumulate nine points for the first time in the country's 18 World Cup appearances.
Aguirre fielded several questions from the press at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday afternoon that boiled down to his plans for the lineup — and for Ochoa — in one way or another. El Vasco kept his cards close to his chest, but did shed light on a couple other matters: he'll "protect" Brian Gutiérrez to keep the talented midfielder from potentially picking up a second yellow card and risking a suspension for the Round of 32, and César Montes will be back on the pitch after missing the South Korea match due to a careless red card in stoppage time in the opener against South Africa.
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