The Mexican Mascherano will retire Héctor Herrera from Mexico National Team

Mexico National Team will face the last CONCACAF Qualifiers match window looking to secure their direct ticket to Qatar 2022 from the first game, as a victory over USMNT will mean becoming the second place in the confederation and leaving behind the Bars and Stripes.

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For now, both El Tri and USMNT are tied in points, with 21, four points away from Canada MNT, who are the leaders of CONCACAF and only team already classified to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but the goal difference benefits the Bars and Stripes.

The remainder two games of the upcoming FIFA match window will be against Honduras and El Salvador, teams that have nothing left to fight for in the last stage of the qualifiers, which suggest that they’ll be easy games for the Aztec squad.

But what Gerardo “Tata” Martino hasn’t decided yet is the roster that he’ll call to face the last three games, given that FMF doesn’t want him to call some of the regular players on his roster, added to the possible absences due to injuries.

His biggest doubt is on the midfield

It’s yet to be seen if Andrés Guardado is going to be available as he’s dealing with an injury suffered a couple weeks ago, when Real Betis played against Atlético Madrid, where he had to leave the game after just 10 minutes.

Added to his possible absence, Martino hasn’t decided yet what will happen with Héctor Herrera, as the 31-year-old midfielder has regained his shape with Atlético Madrid, where he’s started in the past six games, but is yet to be seen if he plays at the same level while wearing El Tri’s colors.

But that’s not the only doubt he has regarding Herrera’s future, as he isn’t happy with his decision of arriving in the MLS over the summer, as he will leave one of the most competitive leagues just months before the World Cup is played.

For now, if Guardado can’t be part of the FIFA match window, Erik Lira is going to take his place in El Tri, as the Cruz Azul midfielder has become one of the most regular players in Liga MX, something he achieved since playing for Pumas.

Is Erik Lira the successor of Héctor Herrera?

Given the possibilities of having Lira in El Tri replacing Guardado, the “Mexican Mascherano” will have the chance to impress Gerardo Martino, and if he succeeds, he might take Herrera’s place in El Tri for Qatar 2022, as he’s younger and will have a better level than Herrera, as Liga MX is often more competitive than MLS.

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