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World Cup chit-chat: Mexico's Salcido to replace Vasquez against Dutch
Veteran Mexico midfielder Carlos Salcido will replace the suspended Jose Juan Vasquez in Sunday's World Cup second-round match against the Netherlands, coach Miguel Herrera said on Saturday.
Salcido, 34, will win his 122nd cap playing at his third World Cup.
"Carlos is a player with a lot of experience," Herrera told a news conference at Fortaleza's Castelao arena.
"Maybe he doesn't give us the intensity that Vasquez gives but he has the experience. His timing is good, his positional sense is good and he's good from dead ball situations, and that could be key."
Vasquez is suspended after being booked twice in the group stage.
Herrera said the Mexicans would be otherwise unchanged from the team that beat Croatia in their last match, with Oribe Peralta and Giovani Dos Santos leading the attack and Javier Hernandez, known as Chicharito, on the bench again.
"Chicharito's been important for the team," Herrera said. "The thing I appreciate most is that's never let his head drop, which you can imagine he might have done given I haven't picked him to start."
The Mexicans were impressive in the group stage, beating Cameroon and Croatia and holding Brazil to a goalless draw.
"We've performed well in defence," Herrera said. "We've only conceded one goal, when we relaxed against Croatia four minutes from the end, something we can't afford to do."
Mexico are seeking to avoid a sixth consecutive second-round exit at the World Cup.
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