Mexico U15 pre-match talk: Fostering a team spirit

During the Mexico U15 boys’ national team training camp, the players take part in several video sessions focusing on their upcoming matches. On matchday, against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), head coach José Antonio Castro walks his players through their duties in attack, defence, and on set pieces.

Two days prior, the team played its first international match of the season against Spain. Despite executing certain phases of the game well, mistakes were made. However, in today’s fixture, he wants to see that his players have learned from their errors, demanding that they leave everything on the pitch.

Game plan and formation

Mexico are deploying a 4-3-2-1 formation to create numerical superiority in the centre of the pitch. This setup allows them to overload central areas, facilitating quick combinations and intricate passing sequences to break through defensive lines.

Mexico in a 4-3-2-1 formation.

(02:00 min) Defensive organisation

(1/7) Castro divided the field into three zones, implementing specific tactics and positioning strategies for each zone.

(2/7) In zone 3, the area nearest the opposition's goal, Mexico want to defend in a 4-4-2 diamond shape. The aim of the pressing strategy is to force their opponents inside and capitalise on the numerical advantage.

(3/7) If the ball is played to the centre-back, the forward on that side presses him with a curved run, ensuring to close off one side.

(4/7) If the opponent's goalkeeper plays directly to the full-back positioned deep, the forward on that side presses the full-back, and the rest of the team follows suit.

(5/7) In zone 2, Mexico use a mid-block, aimed at closing the centre and denying any passing lines to opposition players positioned centrally.

(6/7) In zone 1, Mexico want to defend in a compact 4-5-1 formation, with all players positioned behind the ball and working to block crosses and prevent through balls.

(7/7) If the ball is played out wide in zone 1, the defensive midfielder drops back into the defensive line to support the defenders.

Zone 3:

Castro expects his team to defend in a 4-4-2 diamond. Forming a U-shape, they are tasked with surrounding the ball and pressing from the front to force a mistake.
If the opponent's goalkeeper plays directly to the full-back positioned deep, the forward on that side presses the full-back, and the rest of the team follows.
If the ball is played to the centre-back, the forward on that side presses him with a curved run, ensuring to close off one side of the pitch.
If the opposition push their full-backs high up the pitch when building from the back, Castro tells his team not to pressure the centre-backs or goalkeeper, but rather to congest the middle and block central passes.

Zone 2:

In zone 2, the Mexico players are again expected to congest the middle of the pitch to limit line-breaking passes. Castro instructs them to leave the wide areas open and shuffle across the pitch as the ball moves in front of them.
Furthermore, the players should be alert and ready to steal possession of the ball.

Zone 1:

In zone 1, Castro expects the team to be in a compact 4-5-1 block, with every player behind the ball, and working hard to prevent crosses and through balls.
When the ball is played out wide, the defensive midfielder drops into the backline to provide support to the defenders.

(06:45 min) Offensive organisation

(1/2) During build-up play, Mexico want to push the full-backs high to create more space for the midfielders to play and progress.

(2/2) When playing long, Mexico’s centre-back, Dylan Reyes, takes the goal kicks, with the wingers moving wide, and the rest of the team clustering in the middle.

In the build-up phase, when playing short, Castro wants his centre-backs to stay deep, while the full-backs move wide This creates space for the midfielders and forwards to receive the ball in the centre and combine as they progress up the pitch.
When playing long, Mexico’s centre-back, Dylan Reyes, is expected to take the goal kicks. The wingers position themselves wide, the striker moves laterally to one side for the long ball, and the remaining outfield players cluster centrally in the middle to win the first or second ball.
In the final third, the full-backs are instructed to deliver crosses into the box, with forward players ensuring a strong presence at the front post and providing an option around the penalty spot for a cut-back cross.
To prevent counter-attacks, he urges his players to recover loose balls and commit tactical fouls high up the pitch if necessary.
In terms of defensive cover, the team should maintain numerical superiority at the back, ensuring the deepest player remains free from being marked.

(08:05 min) Set pieces

Mexico’s assistant coach, Israel Hernández, walks the players through their set-piece responsibilities.

(1/5) First corner of the game (one-hand signal): The corner taker will aim for the target player at the back post, taking advantage of the rest of the team running towards the near post.

(2/5) Corner routine (two-hand signal): The corner taker has the freedom to choose where to deliver the cross, while the four attacking players arrive with speed at the potential target zones.

(3/5) Defensive corners: Mexico will use five defenders to mark their opponents in a player-oriented fashion, while two defend the area at the near post.

(4/5) Defensive corners: If Spain play a short corner, the defenders at the near post and the edge of the box move to defend, while the higher player drops back to cover the edge of the penalty area.

(5/5) Defensive lateral free-kicks: Mexico defend lateral free-kicks with seven players in a zonal line, one player ready for transitions, and another at the edge of the box to deal with second balls.

First corner of the game (one-hand signal): The corner taker will target the player at the back post, using the team's near-post runs to create space in the target zone. This routine can be repeated during the game at the taker's discretion, but they can also aim for the near post to confuse the opposition.
Offensive corner routine (two-hand signal): The corner taker can deliver the cross to either post, while the four target players attack at speed, crossing their runs to shake off markers.
Defensive corners: Hernández instructs the team to defend corners with five players marking in a player-oriented manner — two positioned close to the near post, two at the edge of the penalty area, and one higher up the field. If the opposition plays the corner short, the near post defender and the player at the edge of the box leave their positions to defend. Meanwhile, the player higher up the field drops back to provide cover at the edge of the penalty box.
Defensive lateral free-kicks: Mexico defend these with seven players marking zonally in one line.One player from the wall is tasked with being an outlet in case of a transition to attack, while another is stationed at the edge of the box, ready to deal with second balls.

Castro concludes the team talk by reiterating the team’s fighting spirit, saying that playing for the national team must come from the heart. Players need to fight throughout the entire game. That is the true Mexican spirit.