Mexico lose gas against a weak Qatar
On Sunday, Mexico faced the last game of the 2023 Gold Cup group stages. Qatar came into the game as the victim after Mexico had previously shown good football in the two previous games and they had lost one game and tied the other.
For this game, interim coach Jaime ‘Jimmy’ Lozano made six changes with respect to the game against Haiti. This time he put Araujo and Arteaga –both of which play in Europe, in Genk and Barcelona respectively– in the right and left back in lieu of Jorge Sanchez and Jesus Gallardo, Oziel Herrera instead of Antuna, and Santiago Gimenez instead of Henry Martin.
Just as in the two previous games, Mexico had almost total control of the game. They had an overwhelming 77 percent ball possession and 650 passes versus 200 of the Qataris. Out of those passes, Mexico had a 90 percent of accuracy, and made an outstanding 25 shots –although only 6 on target– versus just one made by Qatar.
But even though statistics showed an overwhelming Mexico, the reality is that despite controlling the ball and the game, El Tri barely posed any sense of real danger throughout most of the game. And the times Mexico had clear chances, they couldn’t convert them into goals. Unlike them, Qatar converted the single chance they had in a thundering counter attack and a hammer-like header by Hazem Shehata that despite its force, due to it being aimed at the center of the goal, could have probably been stopped by Ochoa on a better night.
Mexico Lost because they “began to get frustrated”
After the game, Qatar Coach, the experienced Carlos Queiroz, said that they had studied Mexico well. He said that one of the team’s strengths were through balls and diagonal plays. It was precisely in this way how Mexico had previously scored some of their best goals against Honduras and Haiti, but Qatar successfully impeded Mexico from repeating this type of plays.
Queiroz also mentioned that taking into account the limitations of his team, it was best to give the ball to Mexico and to try to close spaces. Perhaps his most revealing reaction was when he stated that they had won the game, “when Mexican players began to get frustrated”. And truly, Mr. Queiroz is completely right. Just like against the Americans in the Nations League, Mexico again started to act impulsively and even aggressively. At some point at the 64’, Santiago Gimenez responded to an aggression by a Youssef Ayman by attempting to punch him, but he missed by mere inches. The referee checked the VAR but incorrectly judged the aggression as a yellow card only.
Mexico getting a timely dose of reality
With this loss, Mexico reignite the doubts that have clouded the national team for years now. Fortunately, ‘Jimmy’ Lozano looks quiet and well composed, with confidence in his players. Perhaps it is the lack of pressure knowing that he is just an interim.
For the next game, Mexico will face the second place of the Group C. Panama have almost secured the first spot, and Martinique, El Salvador and Costa Rica all have options to advance. Mexico now will have five days of work before jumping into the field once again this coming Saturday. This time around they will try to go back to the good football of previous games.
