For Tata Martino A Win Over Panama Is Crucial
Mexico’s manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino is under high pressure in his pursuit of ensuring the team has a spot in the 2022 World Cup to be played in Qatar this Winter.
The road hasn’t been easy for the man leading the “CONCACAF giant”, as the team’s record has not been the best. So far, after the 10th round of World Cup qualifiers, this edition is the second worst when it comes to standings; the worst being on the road to Brazil in 2014 when they were in the fourth spot.
The crisis that El Tri was facing back in the 2013 qualifiers lead the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) to switch head coaches three times. First up was Jose Manuel ‘Chepo’ de la Torre, followed by Víctor Manuel Vucetich, and ending with Miguel ‘Piojo’ Herrera. On that occasion, Mexico reached the intercontinental play-off thanks to the USMNT winning against Panama, making the Brazil qualifiers the worst in team history.
Prior to this game against Panama, the Mexican media has questioned ‘Tata’ about whether he’s concerned about his continuity as manager. “I always have peace of mind,” he said in a virtual press conference Tuesday. “What I have is a job obligation that, evidently, after three years of work has had good moments and others not so good. This might be a moment that we have to pay more attention to, nothing more than that.”
A win over Panama is crucial, not only for ‘Tata’ but for the National Team as well. A win would put Mexico at 21 points and with a ticket in hand to Qatar. Otherwise, a play-off game seems inevitable.
The FMF is prepared for any circumstance, and one of the managers that could substitute ‘Tata’, if necessary, is Miguel Herrera.
Who misses when this guy was our head coach? 💔 #ElTri pic.twitter.com/zMfyaxULNQ
— Samara Perez 🇲🇽 (@SoySamaraPerez) November 17, 2021
Would you like ‘El Piojo’ to return or should ‘Tata’ continue to lead El Tri to the end of the qualifiers?
Loading ...Be sure to tune in this Wednesday between and after the Mexico and U.S.A. games for the latest episode of the El Mexican Soccer Podcast. We will bring you postgame reaction and analysis of Mexico’s and the United State’s World Cup Qualifiers against Honduras and Panama, with special guest Max Bretos, “The Soccer O.G.”
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