Mexico's Montes suspended for South Korea match; Aguirre ponders defensive options

The Mexican national soccer team faces a defensive dilemma heading into their second match of the 2026 World Cup against South Korea. César Montes received a red card in the final minutes of their game against South Africa, forcing coach Javier "Vasco" Aguirre to find a new center-back.

Aguirre has several options to fill the void. The most probable solution is to move Edson Álvarez, the team's captain and a natural midfielder, to the center-back position. Álvarez has experience playing there, having done so during his early career with Club América and previously under Aguirre's guidance.

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Vasco will have to move his pieces for the next commitment in the Guadalajara stadium against the South Korean national team.

Another possibility is to deploy Israel Reyes, a versatile player who can cover multiple defensive positions. If Reyes moves to center-back, Jorge Sánchez would likely take over at right-back. Alternatively, Aguirre could consider Luis Romo, a midfielder for Chivas, who has also played center-back since his debut with Querétaro.

Aguirre has previously stated that his squad is prepared for any eventuality. The upcoming match against South Korea will be a test of that readiness, requiring him to strategically adjust his lineup to maintain defensive solidity.

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Javier Aguirre has boasted that his squad is ready for any eventuality and function that falls to them on and off the field. Now is the time to prove it is real.