True to style, Juan Carlos Osorio hinted Sunday that his starting XI will again look different when it takes the field Monday against Venezuela.

The Mexico manager needs a result against Venezuela to clinch the Group C title, a result that would see Mexico avoid the winner of Group D, likely to be Argentina. While Osorio dismissed the idea of trying to duck any rival in the knockout stages, he said that, as with every match, Mexico will play the XI best suited to face this specific opponent.

"In the day to day we take the most advantage possible of the small time we have with the guys and we work through potential interactions," he said at a news conference Sunday. "There’s a lot to see in the aspect of the rotation, for example how Rafael (Marquez) works in the midfield, with Miguel Layun on the left, at left back or right back or on the inside. Or how Rafael could complement Paul Aguilar and Jorge Torres Nilo, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

"We’re working deeply and arduously on diagnosing the best interactions possible. So, I think it’s a very good opportunity for all and for others to compete and support Mexican soccer."

Though Mexico was scheduled to train on the pitch at NRG Stadium, the team elected to move its session off the field. The grass surface laid in the stadium showed signs of wear in Costa Rica's 3-2 victory over Colombia on Saturday night. With thunderstorms in the area forcing El Tri indoors, the training was moved to the Houston Texans' indoor practice facility.

"We’re very worried about the state of the pitch. Two injured players yesterday" Osorio said. "We don’t know if it was chance or if it had a lot to do with the pitch. But it would be unfair on my part, very unfair on my part, to pick the group thinking that these players might get injured, but these players not. So, zero. This doesnt’ matter. We’re thinking it’s not going to happen, that nobody’s going to have a knock and we’re going to play the best XI possible tomorrow."

Mexico and Venezuela kick off at 8 p.m. ET Monday