COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mexico is set to train Wednesday afternoon but will do so behind closed doors as its World Cup qualification match against the United States draws closer.
It's the second consecutive training session that has seen El Tri close the practice to outsiders — fans and media alike. Tuesday the team had a session in the morning with players speaking to the press after the session. But a second practice at the PASA Fields in Pickerington (near Columbus) that afternoon that had been scheduled to be open to the media was closed.
The Mexican team often closes practices, with throngs of fans still lining up to greet the team when it gets on and off the bus on the way to the venue, and is under no obligation to have training sessions or media availably in the days leading up to the match.
The day before the game, however, manager Juan Carlos Osorio will give a news conference the day before the match. Similarly to one of his coaching role models Marcelo Bielsa, Osorio is willing to take questions from anyone during the allotted time. The first 15 minutes of Mexico's training at Mapfre Stadium before the match also will be open to reporters, but not the general public.
