PEPI’S SUCCESS SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF MEXICO SECURING DUAL NATIONALS

Mexico has not been playing its best fúbol as of late although it has been picking up steam. The magic of the Tata Martino Era was fading quickly but is now starting to flicker just a bit. Their draw at home against Canada only added to the #FUERATATA movement but since then, El Tri managed to win out against Honduras (3-0) at El Azteca and 2-0 against El Salvador. While many may think that the goals are finally starting to trickle in, the question remains: why is Mexico struggling so much? Maybe this is a complete overreaction, but on the other side of the fence, no pun intended, the U.S has also had similar struggles with one key difference. There, Ricardo Pepi has saved Gregg Berhalter’s job this World Cup cycle since making his debut against Honduras. Would getting Pepi in an El Tri jersey have made a difference? I think so, again, this may be an overreaction but hear me out.

LACK OF GOALS

Since the unfortunate injury of Raul Jimenez, El Tri has struggled to find the back of the net. For a while, Mexico trailed their archenemy the USA and Canada in goals scored, but these last two games have brought them up to speed. Now they lead by one, just one goal against the U.S (9) and are tied with Canada, each national team having scored 10 goals through six games in these World Cup Qualifiers. For Mexico, no player has managed to score more than one goal. That is ten different players, ten different goals, and no real attacking figure. In two games, Pepi has scored three goals. Now that’s an attacking figure.

LACK OF ASSISTS

As previously noted, Los Aztecas have 10 goals to this point in the qualifiers, of those ten goals only four were assisted. Pineda’s goal was a PK in Costa Rica, Corona’s goal against Panama was after a few rebounds in the box, Vega’s goal was off a deflection and a dribble, and Henry’s was a deflected ball as well. Pepi for his part has two assists in two games. Now, I know his last assist against Honduras was a blocked shot, but it still goes down as an assist. In fact, he leads his team in assists, which, granted, doesn’t speak well of Team USA in general as they are also currently struggling, but the fact stands: the 18 year-old Mexican-American is making a clear and demonstrable difference for his team.

COMPLETE OVERREACTION?

Again, we are less than half-way through the current qualifiers, but Mexico is in a rut and just barely clawing its way out. Their offense is struggling to generate goal-scoring opportunities, and when they do, it rarely ends in a goal. Pepi has shown an ability to be in the right spot at the right time and finish the chances he has. Remind you of anybody? (See Chicharito)  

If anything. the success that Pepi has had so far in these qualifiers shows the importance of getting these dual-nationals to pick your squad, and more importantly……giving them an opportunity! What good will it do El Tri if Santiago Munoz chooses to represent Mexico, but isn’t called up? Efrain Alvarez has been available for nine matches and is yet to start a game for Mexico, while David Ochoa has yet to receive a callup since switching to Mexico.

The National Squad needs a revamp, but in true Liga MX fashion, when times get tough, youth is never given a chance. As of this writing, Mexico has now recovered two important attacking pieces in Hirving Lozano and Raul Jimenez and indeed, they’ve both recently scored for El Tri, adding their names to that list of ten. One would be tempted to say, “well, we’re good now, the youngsters can take a back seat” but what about the next time Mexico gets hit with the injury bug? Unfortunately, that is a reality of the game, and it will happen sooner or later, but the key is being prepared. Will Mexico have cultivated enough of a bench to help when those situations arise, will they have prepared their youngsters enough so that they are setup for success? In today’s fútbol, what better source could Mexico have found to cultivate than the pool of Mexican-Americans eager to step up.

Numbers don’t lie and in an Octagonal that may come down to a one or two-point or even a goal difference, Pepi’s goals could be crucial.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

El Tri Online was founded in December 2017 to serve English-speaking fans of Mexican Soccer. Our mission is to create compelling Mexican soccer content and share it via our website, streaming apps, social media, and any other medium for English-dominant Mexican-American fans of the Mexican National Team, Liga MX, and their players.

Please email us at info@eltrionline.com if you have any questions or to join the team at gigs@eltrionline.com