PEPI’S SUCCESS SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF SECURING DUAL NATIONALS

Mexico has not been playing its best futbol as of late, and the magic of the Tata Martino Era is fading. Their latest draw at home against Canada has only added to the #FUERATATA movement. Maybe this is a complete overreaction, but Ricardo Pepi 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 to the last two games, 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. Mexico is currently trailing their archenemy the USA(7) and Canada(6) in goals scored through four games in these World Cup Qualifiers with only five goals. No player has managed to score more than one goal with Vega, Martin, Corona, Pineda, and Sanchez all scoring one goal to this point. In two games, Pepi has scored three goals.

LACK OF ASSISTS

As previously noted, Los Aztecas have five goals to this point in the qualifiers, of those five goals only the last goal against Canada was 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. So, of five goals only one was assisted, Pepi for his part has two assists in two games, now, I know his last assist against Honduras was a blocked shot, it still goes down as an assist.

COMPLETE OVERREACTION?

Again, we are less than 30% through the current qualifiers, but Mexico is in a rut. 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 was never given a chance.

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

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