Join us for the first installment of the Road to Trinidad by Lady Viking Senior Defender, Alex Rios. The FIFA U17 Women's World Cup kicks in September as Rios' Mexican National Team takes on Germany on September 5th.
I have come to realize that there are many things I could share about my World Cup training experience. First, the training itself is challenging. There is two practices a day every day. The first is a running practice and touches on the ball. The running consists of some very hard runs, some that the main team can't even complete. We run up a steep mountain, up steep hills, sprint around the field for time, sand, or other things like that. We were always tired after the first practice. Recovery is very important in Mexico. we all need to be in top shape for the Cup. The running gets easier as the days go by. The second practice consists of shape and game play. Every scenario that can be played on the field, we practice the defensive side and the offensive side.
There are always ups and downs.
The ups are the feeling you have after a hard running drill. We were so excited to finish the running drills, not because we didn't have to run anymore, but because we finished as a team and it is a good feeling. Or in the afternoons, playing the right ball to the right place is always the best feeling.
The downs were injuries. Having suffered a swollen tendon in my left knee, I was taken out of practice for almost 5 days. It's hard because you're there to play soccer and only play soccer, and you can't do that. It was very frustrating for me. I got better with the help of therapy and care from our doctors. The experience is very overwhelming, but we will be ready for the World Cup.
This training has been some of the hardest and most competitive training I've ever done. But I know in my heart that we will put up a good fight in Trinidad and Tobago this September.
Go Mexico and of course LVS11!!
Alex
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