Mexico sweat on fitness of four players ahead of World Cup opener against South Africa

[p]Coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aguirre-javier/6gTgWwCE/"]Javier Aguirre[/a] said several months ago that he would not take injured players to the tournament, but such has been the extent of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a]’s fitness concerns that he has been forced to reconsider that stance.[/p][p]According to local reports, defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/montes-cesar/j9EcJFsj/"]César Montes[/a], midfielders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-edson/UkdzkdDr/"]Edson Álvarez[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chavez-luis/fDwDDZt1/"]Luis Chávez[/a], and forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vega-ernesto-alexis/v5eJNiH0/"]Alexis Vega[/a] are all in a race against time to be fit and are carrying a variety of injury concerns.[/p][p]Montes, who plays for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lokomotiv-moscow/Sjs63WfK/"]Lokomotiv Moscow[/a], featured off the bench in Mexico’s previous friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] on May 31, but is still suffering from muscle discomfort.[/p][embed guid="456142ab-a551-4dd7-bc80-472d6b9ff934" url="https://x.com/miseleccionmx/status/2061267078682653069?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fenerbahce/MsbmracL/"]Fenerbahçe[/a] star Álvarez has an ankle problem, while Dinamo Moscow midfielder Chávez is dealing with a ligament issue.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toluca/8hiBr2eQ/"]Toluca[/a] forward Vega is managing a knee complaint that has not sidelined him but requires careful monitoring.[/p][p]Bafana Bafana’s only injury concern at this stage is left-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/modiba-aubrey/tWExAYOC/"]Aubrey Modiba[/a], who missed the second leg of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mamelodi-sundowns/lxZ6Bzh6/"]Mamelodi Sundowns[/a]’ CAF Champions League final against AS FAR with a hamstring problem.[/p][p]Coach Hugo Broos is hopeful that Modiba will be fit in time for the clash against Mexico.[/p]