USMNT legend Landon Donovan predicts Mexico’s World Cup fate ahead of life in Qatar’s ‘tough group’

EL TRI face an uphill battle if they are to make it out of the group stage.

USMNT legend and former Club León forward Landon Donovan sees Mexico pushing through to the last 16 but things will be difficult.

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According to Marca, Donovan said: “It’s a difficult group.

“Poland have a killer like (Robert) Lewandowski, but the most interesting game for me is against Saudi Arabia. Because they play alongside Qatar and I think they will have 30, 40, 50,000 fans in the stadium.

“It will be an away game, not only for Mexico but also for Argentina and Poland. But Mexico will go through.”

The tricolor goes into the World Cup ranked 13th in the world, ahead of their Group C rivals Poland and Saudi Arabia, but behind third-placed Argentina, who enter the tournament as one of the favourites.

With the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala and a certain Lionel Messi in their ranks, Argentina are expected to win Group C.

Unless they can pull off a big upset against Messi and co. Mexico’s best chance of reaching the round of 16 will be to beat Saudi Arabia and Poland.

Although, as Donovan mentioned, Barcelona striker Lewandowski is in good form and has scored thirteen goals in fourteen La Liga games this season, he will be difficult to stop.

If Mexico make it through the group stage, they will face France, Australia, Denmark or Tunisia.

Mexico kick off their World Cup campaign on Tuesday, November 22 at 11:00 am ET when they play Lewandowski’s Poland at Stadion 974.

They then meet Argentina on Saturday 26 November and finish their group stage against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday 30 November.

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