Eriksson's priorities change at Mexico

When Sven-Goran Eriksson took over as Mexico coach last June, the talk was of whether he could lead his new team to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Barely six months later, doubts have emerged about whether he can can even get them to South Africa in 2010.

World Cup qualifying defeats away to Honduras and Jamaica have given ammunition to critics who warned Eriksson was not prepared for the idiosyncrasies of Mexican football and the coach's headache grew worse on Wednesday with a 1-0 defeat to his native Sweden in Oakland in midweek.

Mexico, who have won only once in their last six games, showed little creativity and gifted a goal to the Swedes, losing the ball as they tried to play their way out of defence.

"I think we have to try and score goals when he have the opportunity and create more chances," Eriksson told reporters.

The defeat could not have come at a worse time with Mexico due to visit arch-rivals United States for a World Cup qualifier on Feb. 11.

The game kicks off the CONCACAF qualifying competition's final stage which is played as a six-team mini-league.

The top three teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fourth plays off over two legs against the fifth-placed team from South America.

If Mexico lose away to the US, as their recent record of two wins their last 10 meetings suggests they will, then the trips to Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Trinidad will loom very large.