CAN EL TATA SURVIVE ANOTHER LOSS TO THE USA?
After the devastating summer, El Tri had earlier this year, losing back-to-back finals to their archnemesis The United States, every Mexico fan had one date circled on their calendar, November 12, 2021. The day Mexico could get their revenge in the USA.
Both teams are on track to qualify for the next World Cup currently sitting in first and second place but have struggled. But the question remains, can Los Aztecas afford a third loss in a year to the USA? Or more importantly, can Martino survive a third loss to the Yankees.
This is a dangerous set of games for Mexico, as they travel to the USA and Canada. If they lose both games, Mexico is in danger of falling to 3rd in qualifying, and with pressure mounting on El Tata, his position may be in jeopardy.
But should it be? Tata has only lost five games and tied five games from his 43 games in charge. This leaves his winning percentage at 77%. Three of those losses have been in friendlies and only two in official matches. His PPG (points per game) is 2.42, which is the highest of any Mexico National team coach. His squad has the best goals in favor to goals against ratio in the last decade. Not really fireable offenses right?
However, of those five losses, two are against the USA, and as we’ve mentioned before, both in Finals. If Tata loses on Friday, 50% of his losses will have been against the one team you can’t lose to. Mexican media have been calling for Martino’s head since the summer, and recent lackluster performances in the Qualifiers have not helped Tata off the hot seat. The pressure has gotten to Tata, and he has used more defensive tactics in recent matches.
Now, let’s be realistic, a loss to the USA shouldn’t cost El Tata his job. Mexico will qualify for next year’s World Cup, and his time ahead of Mexico has been good. Unfortunately for him, the Mexican media, and many fans are clamoring for a Mexican head coach to take over the reins, mainly, El Jimmy Lozano.
Lozano led the Mexican Olympic squad to a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, and his team played an offensive, visually pleasing offensive style. At the Olympics, his squad averaged three goals per match and received 1.83 goals against. Overall, Lozano has managed 14 games with Mexico’s U-23 and had a 79% win percentage with his teams scoring 38 goals and receiving 19 while giving him a 2.38 PPG. But, can he maintain that success at the top level? That is the question, and would you risk World Cup Qualifying to hand the team over to the IT coach of the moment? (See Ojitos Meza in 2000-2001)
What do you think? Should Jimmy Lozano be handed the National Team or would you keep El Tata Martino?
