By Edgardo Avelar
Orbelin Pineda Offensive midfielder for AEK of Greece is shaping up to become the novelty in the starting eleven of the Mexico team for the debut of the Copa América this Saturday vs. Jamaica, in the opening duel of the Group B of the Copa América in the city of Houston, Texas.
Pineda, everything indicates, will enter the starting eleven in place of Pachuca midfielder Erick Sánchezafter in the last twelve days he had been the player who was outlined to appear from the beginning in Mexico’s first game in the continental tournament.
However, another doubt would be in the defense, between Jorge Sánchez and Israel Reyes, especially because the América defender has made progress which has made the national coach doubt whether he is a better option than the Porto de Portugal full-back and Cruz Azul’s next player.
In this way, Jaime Lozano, coach of the Mexican national team, will use the following table: Julio González in goal; Gerardo Arteaga, César Montes, Johan Vázquez and Jorge Sánchez and Israel Reyes in defense; Edson Álvarez, Orbelín Pineda and Luis Chávez; Uriel Antuna, Santiago Giménez and Julián Quiñones up front.
It should be noted that Orbelin Pineda saw action in the 2023 Nations League duel, when they tied 2-2 at the Azteca Stadium and where the Mexican national team played with Guillermo Ochoa in goal; Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Héctor Moreno and Jesús Gallardo in defense; Edson Alvarado, Luis Romo and Luis Chávez in midfield; Hirving Lozano, Henry Martín and Orbelín Pineda in the attack.
In that game at the Azteca Stadium, Bobby Decordova opened the scoring at minute 7, Orbelín Pineda tied at 17, so that Jamaica would take the lead again with an own goal from Edson Álvarez and Hirving Lozano finally managed to tie in the 45th minute, so that the score did not move in the second half, with the players of the Mexican national team leaving the Azteca Stadium booed.
So Mexico will have the obligation to go for victory and prevent the pressure from overwhelming them and what may be illusions in the first half. If goals are not scored, everything can change for the complementary part.
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