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Sports Mole previews Sunday's friendly clash between Mexico and New Zealand, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

In their first of two successive matches in North America, New Zealand will travel to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for a friendly with Mexico on Saturday.

El Tri played to a 0-0 draw versus Ecuador in their previous encounter, exiting the Copa America group stage, while the All Whites defeated Vanuatu 3-0 in June at the Oceania Nations Cup.

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Match preview

An early exit from the group phase of the Copa America was the last straw for Jaime Lozano as head coach of the Mexican national team, as he chose to resign despite being offered an extension by the federation.

Entering in his place will be a familiar face to Mexican fans in Javier Aguirre, who will manage this team for a third time, guiding them to the round of 16 at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and playing for the 1986 side that made the quarter-finals.

The 65-year-old takes over a squad that have lost four of their previous five competitive fixtures, failing to score on three of those occasions.

His stay this time around, however, will be temporary, with Rafael Marquez, who played under Aguirre at two prior World Cups, already in line to replace him following the 2026 World Cup.

So far in 2024, Mexico have only won one of their five fixtures against teams outside CONCACAF, defeating Bolivia in a friendly last May (1-0).

Mexico are winless in their previous five matches played in California but won the last time out in Pasadena, 1-0, over Peru in September 2022.

It was a dominating summer for New Zealand, who impressively claimed the OFC Nations Cup by defeating Vanuatu in the final to lift the trophy for the sixth time.

Darren Bazeley's men won all four of their matches at that tournament without conceding, netting three or more goals in each encounter.

So far this year, this team have posted five clean sheets in six international affairs while suffering only one defeat in normal time, 1-0 in a friendly versus Egypt in March.

While they have fared well against their own region, it has been a different story versus sides outside Oceania, with the All Whites winless in seven successive matches against teams outside their region, including arch-rivals Australia, who play in Asian competitions.

Saturday will be their first match against a CONCACAF opponent since their 2022 World Cup dreams were dashed by Costa Rica, who beat them 1-0 in an Inter-confederation playoff that same year.

New Zealand have lost all six of their previous encounters versus El Tri across all competitions, squandering a 1-0 half-time advantage at the 2017 Confederations Cup and losing 2-1.

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Team News

Only one player selected to the Mexican squad for this upcoming friendly has not featured for the senior team as Alex Padilla was chosen ahead of veteran Guillermo Ochoa, despite the fact that he and the other two goalkeepers selected, Raul Rangel and Luis Malagon, only have five international caps combined.

Luis Romo can reach 50 caps with El Tri this weekend, and Roberto Alvarado is only five away from reaching that same milestone.

Henry Martin is currently the top goalscorer in Liga MX, with four strikes in the Apertura, even with Jose Raul Zuniga, while Santiago Gimenez is tied for second in goals in the Eredivisie with two.

As for New Zealand, Kosta Barbarouses can pick up his 61st cap, putting him even with Ricki Herbert for fifth all-time.

Chris Wood, who is second in appearances for this program and their record goalscorer (34 goals), can collect his 75th cap this weekend.

Alex Paulsen is their least experienced player chosen for this international window, with the Auckland FC goalkeeper having just one appearance to his name while defender Dalton Wilkins has two.

Mexico possible starting lineup:
Padilla; Araujo, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Pineda, Romo, Chavez; Lainez, Gimenez, Vega

New Zealand possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Payne, Tuiloma, Smith, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic; Garbett, Waine, Just; Wood

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We say: Mexico 1-0 New Zealand

New Zealand have not faced any formidable opponents in quite some time, and we expect to see a rejuvenated Mexican squad keen to impress their new coach, eventually find a way to break them down.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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