Big questions before Mexico's pre-World Cup friendlies: Injuries, leadership, and the 'quinto partido'

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The Mexico men's national team will play their first World Cup game against Poland in November. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara are where El Tri will play their next two friendly games.

The World Cup brackets and fixture schedule.

There have been few signs of Mexico shaking off the rust that made World Cup qualification so difficult for the team. The team that have just one win in their last five was the focus of the news conference.

Mexico have been far from their best, and with the hopes of them gaining some much-needed confidence this month, here are a few questions that remain.

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Will ill-timed injuries haunt Mexico?

As they prepare for the World Cup, the best players should be available for upcoming friendly games. Without some of his high-profile names, he will have to continue his work.

The star forward has an injury and won't play this week. I didn't think we would be in this situation, but I don't know if he's going to the World Cup. I have to think about it.

While with the squad, he is doing recovery training along with other players who are going to leave before the game. The medical team is evaluating the player and he is adoubt.

Along with the serious leg injury for Sevilla's Jesus "Tecatito" Corona in August that will likely keep him out of the World Cup, Mexico now have a third of their best.

The next two games are going to be crucial in finding replacements. There should be opportunities for backups like Henry Martin, Santiago Gimenez, Diego Lainez, Orbelin Pineda and others to claim minutes. If solutions aren't found, the skepticism around El Tri will only get worse.

Is there an El Tri leadership void?

When things have gotten tough for Mexico, fans and the media want to see old school leaders like Cuauhtemoc Blanco or Rafael Marquez.

Is a lack of strong- willed guidance valid?

There aren't any leaders in the national team. "They say it because they are looking for the leader from the past: the grouch, a scold, the one who demonstrates, and that has changed," said captain Guardado.

Guardado realized that he preferred to be more open and personable as a captain. He likes to be light-hearted and has been more involved in the transition of new players into the squad than he used to be.

There should be a change in leadership for Mexico as well. While Guardado is important in the locker room, he is not a guaranteed starter on the pitch. If not already, other veterans such as Herrera and Moreno are on the verge of being replaced.

In the hour that a Mexican has to close ranks, we all close ranks, but his influence as a leader is held to the net and not as a field player.

It's unlikely that we'll see the captain's armband handed to a younger name over the next couple of friendly matches, but there should be an ambition for level-headed or hard-working players like Edson Alvarez, Cesar Montes or Gutierrez to step up and possibly be

And what about that quinto partido?

The quinto partido is associated with the national team.

"The fifth game" is a desperate desire for Mexico to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Cup after previously exiting in the round of 16 for seven straight tournaments.

Since the 1994 World Cup, Mexico has gone past the group stage in all but one of the seven tournaments it has participated in.

The stagnation that leads to regression seems to be more relevant for El Tri. In the last year or so, the squad has failed to win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup, as well as going four games without a victory against their US rivals.

If there's a chance that Mexico can get back on track and reach the fifth game, it would be a huge step forward.

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Herc Gomez is a big fan of the new Mexico away kit.

Mexico's squad had a visualization of the quinto partido.

If we go there with this in our minds, it's not good for us.

It's going to be a balancing act between having an aim but not over thinking the goal, and in the process of fighting for the accomplishment, two wins would help build confidence before the World Cup.

The quinto partido was also discussed by the man. He said winning the fourth game was the most important factor to make it to the fifth game.