Mexico vs. Sweden result: Raul Jimenez returns, but El Tri fall in World Cup warmup friendly

Author Photo
Kyle Bonn
and others
• 19 min read
Raúl Jiménez México
(Getty Images)

Mexico may have fallen to an alarming 2-1 defeat in their pre-World Cup friendly against Sweden, but El Tri did come away with the most important victory: a clean bill of health heading into the tournament in Qatar.

There were no notable fitness concerns across the 90 minutes of play, and Raul Jimenez made his return from a months-long injury layoff.

Unfortunately, that's where the good news comes to an end. A bright Alexis Vega provided the finishing touch on Mexico's only goal, but on the whole, Sweden came away with the victory thanks to goals from Marcus Rohden and Mattias Svanberg.

It's yet another worry for under-fire boss Gerardo "Tata" Martino who continues to preside over concerning results. Sweden were dangerous on the counter, and Mexico failed to come away with more from their numerous opportunities in front of net.

On his return to action, his first minutes since August 31, Jimenez was quite poor, failing to provide a second-half spark for a lackluster attack. Chucky Lozano also appeared, and was more positive, but he still was unable to be the difference-maker he's expected to be.

MORE: Mexico, Jimenez with plenty to worry about headed into 2022 World Cup

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Mexico vs Sweden in their pre-World Cup friendly.

Mexico vs Sweden final score

  1H 2H Final
Mexico 0 1 1
Sweden 0 2 2

Goals:
54th min — SWE — Marcus Rohden
60th min — MEX — Alexis Vega
84th min — SWE — Mattias Svanberg

Lineups:

Mexico (4-3-3, right to left): 13-Ochoa (GK) — 19-J. Sanchez, 3-Montes, 15-Moreno, 23-Gallardo — 8-C. Rodriguez, 16-Herrera, 30-Chavez — 26-Antuna, 20-Martin, 10-Vega.

Sweden (4-4-2, right to left): 23-Nordfeldt (GK) — 24-Holm, 4-Hien, 3-Lindelof, 6-Augustinsson — 8-Rohden, 17-Karlstrom, 21-Gustafson, 19-Svanberg — 16-Goykeres, 11-Elanga.

Mexico vs. Sweden live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

FULL-TIME: Mexico 1-2 Sweden

MORE: Full breakdown of Mexico 26-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup

While defeat will certainly be cause for concern, it's not an absolutely alarming performance on the whole.

The biggest victory for Mexico will be a clean bill of health, as no immediate injury concerns were evident throughout the 90 minutes. The defensive mistake for Sweden's opener cannot happen in the World Cup, but on the whole, the attack produced good moments and featured positive decision-making. The execution, on another day, will be there.

Alexis Vega was bright throughout the match, and may have earned himself a starting spot opposite Chucky Lozano at the World Cup. One last notable, Andres Guardado became Mexico's all-time appearance leader, alone atop the leaderboard.

89th min: Chance, Mexico! Desperate for an equalizer, Vega does great work down the left and finds the head of Romo, but he pings his header well over the bar. It was tough to get on the end of that fizzed cross from close range, but it was a good opportunity in front of net.

Moments later, Chucky Lozano tries to do it himself on the right, and it rolls out of play. Two minutes of added time.

84th min: GOAL! Sweden! As the game winds down, Mexico have shut off, now in full stay-healthy mode. It showed on a Sweden corner. The ball came into the mixer and was cleared only to the feet of Svanberg, and nobody rushed to close him down. He fired a pin-seeker directly inside the far post, and it somehow made it through the trees and past a diving Ochoa.

82nd min: With a few minutes left in this pre-World Cup friendly, Vega earns the first yellow card of the match by clipping the heels of Holm.

Sweden make another change, as Ken Sema comes on for Ludwig Augustinsson.

79th min: The subs have slowed the game down, but Raul Jimenez is still miles off the pace. He's way behind a cross from the right. It's a pedestrian return for him at best.

Meanwhile, Sweden have resorted to "Hack-a-Chucky" since the Napoli winger has come on. Frustrating as he's hacked again way late on the flank by Victor Lindelof.

68th min: After a bright first half, Anthony Elanga has disappeared, and he comes off, replaced by Mikael Ishak. Also on is Robin Quaison and Emil Forsberg, with Viktor Gyokeres and Jesper Karlstrom exiting.

Jimenez is flagged for being lazily offside on a cross from deep.

62nd min: Straight after scoring on the hour mark, Tata Martino makes another triple change. Cesar Montes, Hector Moreno, and Hector Herrera all come off, with Nestor Araujo, Johan Vasquez, and Luis Romo enter.

60th min: GOAL! Mexico! It didn't take long for Mexico to reply! Somehow, a hilariously speculative ball from Hector Herrera catches the entire Sweden back line by surprise, as they're absurdly high up the field. Alexis Vega latches onto it, and he's past the entire defensive unit and free on goal. He makes no mistake, hitting inside the far post.

Hard to get caught collectively napping like Sweden just were. Credit to Herrera whose excellent pass produced the chance, fizzing a scissor hit with his right. Vega did the rest with his speed and precision.

54th min: GOAL! Sweden! Oh no, Mexico come inches away on one end, and then concede at the other! It's a calamity at the back, and Marcus Rohden has a gift. The Mexico back line looks comfortable as Sweden break, but Hector Moreno has absolutely no idea that the Sweden midfielder has drifted behind him at the far post. With Gallardo caught high up the field, it's wide open, and a great cross from Mattias Svanberg does the trick.

53rd min: Chance, Mexico! HOW has that not gone in?!? Jorge Sanchez hits the post! A hit from Sanchez is redirected brilliantly by Sanchez, who has done incredibly well to get a silky touch, but the ball hits the inside of the post and redirects ALONG the goal line, where Nordfeldt can collect. If that's clear of the post, it's a Mexico lead.

51st min: Mexico have an opportunity down the left as Gallardo crosses into the middle, but Vega flubs the chance as the ball bobbles awkwardly at his feet. The ball squirts all the way through to Chavez who has a rip but it's no trouble for the goalkeeper.

49th min: Sweden has held much of the early possession in the half, but Mexico counter through the two subs Jimenez and Lozano. It fizzles out as Jimenez is marshaled out wide. They didn't look to be playing at full speed, which is understandable as health is the primary concern. Still, it's a wonder how that would have turned out had they turned on the afterburners.

46th min: The second half is under way. Mexico have, as expected, made a trio of changes, and they're all notable. Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is on, and so is Raul Jimenez, who makes his first appearances of any kind since August 31. Finally, on comes captain Andres Guardado and takes the armband.

Coming off are Carlos Antuna, Henry Martin, and Charly Rodriguez.

HALFTIME: Mexico 0-0 Sweden

El Tri were quite poor through much of the opening half, clearly able to think of ways of breaking Sweden down but unable to execute them. Sweden were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure under little threat of conceding.

Mexico did, however, look much better through the final 10 minutes of the half. Luis Chavez began to pull the strings in midfield, and Charly Rodriguez should have done better with his 39th minute header. Uriel Antuna was poor much of the half, but nearly produced a golazo to put Mexico ahead before the break.

The best player of the half, though, was Anthony Elanga, who sparkled in the attacking third every time he touched the ball. Sweden have a future star on their hands.

43rd min: Chance, Mexico! PING! A ball clips off the crossbar! WHAT a hit by Antuna! He picks up the ball near the top-right corner of the 18-yard box, and cuts inside to get clear of two defenders. He has a tiny window to hit a shot, and he finds it with a left-footed howitzer, but misses by the thinnest of margins, clipping the top of the crossbar as he aims for the bullseye in the top-left corner of the net. So close!

39th min: Chance, Mexico! El Tri just can't get it right in the attacking third. Antuna delivers a horrific cross that's not even remotely dangerous, but it's sent back in from the other side by Chavez, who produces a stunning delivery from deep. It finds the head of Charly Rodriguez, but his effort on goal is straight at the goalkeeper.

It's there for Mexico. The ideas are there. The decision-making is there. Yet it's just not happening.

33rd min: Mexico give the ball away in midfield and it springs another Sweden counter. Elanga is the key playmaker again and nearly wins a chance on a one-two, but it's cleared before he can get back on the ball.

31st min: Sweden have a dangerous free-kick after a foul by Gallardo on Emil Holm just outside the right side of the penalty area. A silly decision by the Mexico defender, just stepping in from behind with very little chance to win the ball.

The free-kick is low and driven, but is cleared before reaching the dangerous part of the mixer.

29th min: After thrashing Iraq 4-0 last time out, this Mexico performance is missing something. They're doing excellent one-on-one work, but the passing is missing a cutting edge. The ideas are there, and they're making the right decisions, but the execution has been poor.

Now Jorge Sanchez is whistled for a foul on a great tackle where he clearly got the ball first, a poor decision from the official.

21st min: Chance, Sweden! Oh my god, Anthony Elanga just sent three Mexico defenders to the showers as he weaves his way into the penalty area. He feeds Mattias Svanberg centrally, who nearly puts the European side in front, but just misses with his effort wide right. Massive let-off for Mexico after being carved to shreds.

17th min: A HUGE missed opportunity for Mexico. Using the big switch from left to right, Mexico isolated Antuna one-on-one against his defender Ludwig Augustinsson. A massive mistake from Augstinsson with his clearance of the switch sees Antuna free on goal, and after he's closed down by a single trailing defender, he decides to deliver a lateral ball to the penalty spot, which is cleared easily.

El Tri failing to get a shot off there is poor, and Tata Martino shows his clear frustration on the bench, flailing his hands in the air and retreating to his seat on the bench angrily muttering to himself.

14th min: In Mexico's first corner, won by shifty work from Uriel Antuna, Henry Martin gets his head to the delivery and lashes a shot wide left. It's a good challenge from the Mexican attacker, and he rises high to meet the ball, but just barely gets the wrong angle on the effort. El Tri's best attack yet.

10th min: Sweden have the first corner of the game, and they're lucky lucky to have a second chance. The effort is miserable, barely reaching the pack of players at all, but it's headed back out for another attempt. On the re-do, it's a much better ball, and it takes a good defensive effort aerially to clear. Excellent effort by Jorge Sanchez.

6th min: The game's first shot is a weak one by Vega, who did well to win the ball under heat from Jesper Karlstrom down the middle. With space to shoot, he rifles a scuffed effort that Kristoffer Nordfeldt can easily collect down to his right. It was well placed in the bottom-left corner, but had no power.

Just a minute later, there's another effort from Luis Chavez, which has more power, but it's from a tight angle and Nordfeldt has it covered as well.

5th min: Now it's Sweden's turn to possess the ball, and interestingly, they transition into a 4-1-4-1 on the ball. On a Mexico counter, Victor Lindelof's excellent tackle stops the move, but he's injured on the play. It takes him a few attempts to get to his feet, and he's clearly struggling. That's a worry for both Sweden and Manchester United.

3rd min: Mexico are controlling the early possession, forcing Sweden back into a strict & flat 4-4-2 mid-block. The European opponents are maintaining a very rigid shape off the ball. Mexico have looked to attack via Uriel Antuna down the right a few times.

In their first time down the left, Ernesto Vega wins a foul.

1st min: We're under way! Mexico has 90 minutes before the World Cup is here.

Mexico vs. Sweden pre-match updates

13 mins from kickoff: "Tata" Martino has stated that Raul Jimenez will get minutes in this game. He has not started, but apparently will come on at some stage. He hasn't played any minutes at any level since August 31.

20 mins from kickoff: It will be interesting to see how Mexico's starting lineup today compares to that of El Tri's opening game in Qatar. No Edson Alvarez is interesting, but it could just be that Tata wishes to rest his midfielder after the club season is still fresh in the rear view mirror.

Additionally, Nestor Araujo's absence in the defense is notable, but again, there could be little there, as he did start the Iraq victory and played the full 90 minutes, and could therefore just be earning a breather.

50 mins from kickoff: There will be Mexican supporters at the match.

But few will be as decked out as this guy:

60 mins from kickoff: We have the Mexico lineup. It'll be Hector Moreno instead of Nestor Araujo at center-back. Luis Chavez and Charly Rodriguez will get a chance to show what they can do in midfield. And Uriel Antuna and Alexis Vega to support center-forward Henry Martin.

75 mins from kickoff: Mexico team bus pulls up. You can spot Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano and Uriel Antuna among the players entering the stadium.

90 mins from kickoff: Report that Uriel Antuna will get the start for El Tri:

100 mins from kickoff: A look at the jersey Mexico will be wearing against Sweden:

4 hrs 45 mins from kickoff: Football ping-pong is becoming a popular way to train and have fun. Even the Swedish national team has taken to entertaining themselves while building ball control skills at the same time.

5 hrs from kickoff: As Mexico get ready for their final tuneup before the 2022 World Cup, here's a reminder of who's on their 26-man roster for the tournament. Players can still be replaced due to injury with anyone on the provisional roster up until the team's first match at the World Cup.

For more on who made it and who missed out, click here for a full roster breakdown from The Sporting News.

Mexico vs. Sweden lineups, team news

Mexico now has their full 26-man squad available, although some precaution will surely be taken.

The fitness of striker Raul Jimenez has been a constant question over the past few months, but Tata Martino stated that he will get minutes at some point in today's match. At this point, his last on-field action of any kind came back on Aug. 31 in a Premier League match against Bournemouth, while his last time on the field with the national team was back on June 6.

European-based players including Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano and Edson Alvarez will not start, as Hector Herrera anchors the midfield with Charly Rodriguez and Luis Chavez on either side of him.

Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 13-Ochoa (GK) — 19-J. Sanchez, 3-Montes, 15-Moreno, 23-Gallardo — 8-C. Rodriguez, 16-Herrera, 30-Chavez — 26-Antuna, 20-Martin, 10-Vega.

Sweden are not World Cup participants this year, and so head coach Janne Andersson has called in a host of young players.

One man not part of the squad is forward Dejan Kulusevski, who was not risked, having just returned to the Tottenham lineup from a long injury layoff. That makes room up front for the likes of Man United's 20-year-old Anthony Elanga, who still does not have a goal this season, and Coventry City's Viktor Goykeres.

There are four players on the Sweden roster without a single international cap, plus another 10 with single-digit national team appearances. The captain is Victor Lindelof of Manchester United, who has 54 caps to his name.

Sweden (4-4-2, right to left): 23-Nordfeldt (GK) — 24-Holm, 4-Hien, 3-Lindelof, 6-Augustinsson — 8-Rohden, 17-Karlstrom, 21-Gustafson, 19-Svanberg — 16-Goykeres, 11-Elanga.

Mexico vs. Sweden live stream, TV channel

Mexico’s final match before the World Cup will take place at the Estadio Municipal Montilivi in Girona, Spain against No. 25-ranked Sweden. El Tri will travel to Qatar the following day.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
Australia Thu, Nov. 17 06:30 AEDT  —  —
Canada Wed, Nov. 16 14:30 EST  —  —
Hong Kong Thu, Nov. 17 03:30 HKT  —  —
India Thu, Nov. 17 01:00 IST  —  —
Malaysia Thu, Nov. 17 03:30 MYT Astro SuperSport 2 Astro Go
New Zealand Thu, Nov. 17 08:30 NZDT  —  —
Singapore Thu., Nov. 17 03:30 SGT  —  —
UK Wed, Nov. 16 19:30 GMT  —  —
USA Wed, Nov. 16 14:30 EST Univision, TUDN fuboTV, TUDN site/app
Author(s)
Kyle Bonn Photo
Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a soccer content producer for The Sporting News.