Depleted Mexico bullish on Gold Cup chances

Posted Saturday, June 18, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Even with a squad depleted due to a doping dust-up, Mexico believe they have what it takes to retain the CONCACAF Gold Cup crown.

Mexico were rocked early in the regional football championship, when five players were pulled from the squad by national federation officials because of positive tests for banned clenbuterol during a training camp near Mexico City in May.

So far a decision on whether the players can be replaced has yet to be made as an investigation continues into how they ingested the drug.

But that didn't stop Mexico winning the remaining two of their three first-round matches to emerge unbeaten atop Group A in the regional championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

They won their three group matches by a combined score of 14-1, their 14 goals twice the number scored by any other team in the tournament.

"If CONCACAF at some point decides to allow the players, good," Hector Inaturri, Mexico's national director of football said Friday as the side prepared for their Gold Cup quarter-final clash with Guatemala on Saturday. "If not, we have 17 players and we are going to win."

Honduras and Costa Rica kick off the quarter-finals on Saturday at New Meadowlands Stadium, with Mexico v Guatemala to follow.

On Sunday, Jamaica play the United States and Panama face El Salvador at RFK Stadium in Washington.

CONCACAF, football's governing body for the region, said Friday the matches at New Meadowlands, the billion-dollar stadium that opened about a year ago, are sold out.

Mexico Coach Jose Manuel de la Torre also said he wouldn't worry about when CONCACAF officials might decide on possible replacement players.

"We will continue working with the players we have and go from there," de la Torre said. "We have to adapt to the circumstances. We have thought about it in case we are allowed to bring the players and see what we can do then.

"Now we have to focus on what we have at hand."

De La Torre said his team wouldn't underestimate Guatemala, who shocked Mexico 3-2 in 2007 in a victory that derailed Mexico's Olympic bid.

And Guatemala said they wouldn't be over-awed by the mighty Mexicans, led by Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

"We know their offense is the best (in the Gold Cup)," Guatemala goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez said. "Chicharito has been great. That is something you have to respect.

"We know they've scored 14 goals in three games. But this is a different game. We know who they are. If we are positioned well, there is no chance for them to harm us."