For decades, the Mexican National Team has been plagued by one of the most frustrating narratives in international football—the dreaded “Quinto Partido” curse. Since 1994, Mexico has consistently reached the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup, only to fall short of advancing to the quarterfinals. The talent has been there, the passion undeniable, yet something continues to hold El Tri back. To finally break this cycle, Mexico needs a fundamental shift in both tactics and mentality.
Tactical Shortcomings: What’s Gone Wrong?
One of Mexico’s recurring issues at the World Cup has been tactical naivety against elite opposition. While Mexico dominates possession against weaker teams, they often struggle against more disciplined, tactically superior squads in knockout rounds. The lack of adaptability has been costly.
Historically, Mexico has relied on a high-energy, attacking style, but when facing teams with structured defensive setups, such as Argentina (2006, 2010), Brazil (2018), and the Netherlands (2014), El Tri’s approach has been predictable. Defensive transitions have also been a weak point, with Mexico often caught out on counterattacks. To progress beyond the Round of 16, Mexico must develop tactical flexibility—something that successful nations like France and Croatia have mastered. A pragmatic, well-drilled defensive structure combined with the ability to control the tempo of the game is crucial.
Mentality Shift: Playing to Win, Not Just Compete
Beyond tactics, Mexico’s biggest hurdle may be psychological. Too often, El Tri enters knockout matches as the underdog—not necessarily in talent, but in mindset. There’s a sense of playing “not to lose” rather than playing to win. Against the Netherlands in 2014, Mexico led late but failed to close out the match. Against Brazil in 2018, a strong start faded into passivity.
The solution? A shift in mentality. Mexico must instill a winning culture where players embrace the pressure and thrive in high-stakes moments. This starts at youth levels, where mental toughness training should be as crucial as tactical drills. The emergence of players competing in top European leagues also helps; experience in high-pressure club matches can translate to the national team.
Breaking the Curse in 2026
With Mexico co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, there is no better opportunity to shatter the Quinto Partido narrative. A tactical evolution, a fearless mentality, and a new generation of players unafraid of the moment could finally push El Tri beyond their long-standing barrier. The time for excuses is over—it’s time to rewrite history.
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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
Pasadena, CA – On a sweltering 98-degree day, Mexico faced off against New Zealand in a sparsely populated Rose Bowl. Mexico’s “El Tri” took an early lead, with Orbelín Pineda netting a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner in the 5th minute. Roberto Alvarado set up the play with a well-placed header, showcasing Mexico’s quick offensive start.
Throughout the first half, Mexico maintained control of the game, dominating possession with 57.2 percent of the ball. Their control stifled New Zealand’s offense, limiting them to zero shots on goal. Mexico’s midfield consistently disrupted New Zealand’s attempts to build momentum, while their defense remained impenetrable, giving New Zealand few opportunities to challenge their backline. Despite the sparse crowd, Mexico’s early dominance suggested confidence and composure on the field.
As the second half kicked off, Mexico ramped up the intensity, relentlessly pressuring New Zealand and showing no signs of letting up. Their aggressive strategy bore fruit in the 53rd minute when 23-year-old César “El Chino” Huerta unleashed a clinical right-footed strike from close range, driving the ball into the center of the goal. The play leading up to this moment was a masterclass in precision, with Luis Romo delivering a perfectly timed cross that set up Huerta’s decisive finish.
Barely four minutes later, Mexico further solidified their dominance. In the 57th minute, Luis Romo, a dynamic force in both attack and midfield, unleashed a precise right-footed shot from outside the box, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner with finesse. This goal not only highlighted Romo’s exceptional technical skill but also the seamless flow of Mexico’s offensive play. Orbelín Pineda, who had been instrumental throughout the match, provided another assist, underscoring his remarkable vision and playmaking talent.
The rapid-fire goals within a few minutes left New Zealand reeling, struggling to regain their footing. Mexico’s ability to transition fluidly from midfield to attack, coupled with their sharp finishing, exposed New Zealand’s defensive weaknesses and left them floundering under relentless pressure.
The official attendance was reported as 25,271, though the actual crowd seemed much smaller. This gap between the announced and visible turnout could be due to several reasons, such as the difference between tickets sold and how many people actually showed up. Venues often count all sold tickets, even if not everyone attends. Additionally, there may have been a fan boycott at play, possibly driven by frustrations with team management, high ticket prices, or other factors. The intense heat or the nature of the matchup might have also kept some fans away.
Soccer holds a special place in the hearts of Hispanic communities across the United States. For many, the Mexican National Team represents not just a soccer squad but a cultural beacon of pride and identity. The fervent support from Mexican-American fans has undeniably been a cornerstone of the team’s success and popularity. However, an intriguing question arises: does this undying support potentially hinder the advancement of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) and its objectives? This article delves into this complex issue, shedding light on how the passionate backing of fans in the USA intersects with the growth and development of Mexican soccer.
The Power of Fan Support
Mexican-American fans have long been a pillar of support for the Mexican National Team, consistently filling stadiums and creating an electrifying atmosphere at matches. This immense enthusiasm has translated into significant revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcasting rights. According to a 2023 report by the FMF, over 60% of the national team’s revenue comes from games played in the USA. This fact highlighting the critical role of this fan base.
An example of this is the 2022 friendly match between Mexico and Argentina in Los Angeles. It drew over 70,000 fans, showcasing the robust market for Mexican soccer in the USA. This support is vital for sustaining the financial health of the FMF.
Impact on Development and Growth
While the financial benefits are clear, there is an ongoing debate about whether the heavy reliance on U.S. fans might limit the FMF’s focus on domestic development. The FMF has made considerable strides in improving the quality of Mexican soccer, but the lure of substantial revenue from the U.S. market can sometimes overshadow the need to invest in grassroots and youth development within Mexico.
The 2021 report from the Mexican Soccer Development Program highlighted that while revenue from international matches supported operational costs, there was a noted lag in investment in local academies and coaching programs. This imbalance can impact the long-term growth and competitiveness of the Mexican soccer system.
The Cultural and Economic Influence
The cultural impact of the Mexican National Team’s success abroad is profound, fostering a sense of unity and pride among Mexican communities in the U.S. This connection often extends beyond soccer, influencing cultural events, business ventures, and social gatherings.
This is clearly visible in a 2022 survey by the National Soccer Foundation. It states that 80% of Mexican fans in the U.S. feel a stronger connection to Mexican soccer compared to local teams, underscoring the significant cultural influence of the national team. This connection can lead to increased interest in Mexican soccer leagues and players, creating a cross-border soccer culture that benefits both Mexican and U.S. soccer ecosystems.
Balancing Act: A Dual-Focus Strategy
For the FMF, finding a balance between leveraging the U.S. market and investing in domestic soccer development is crucial. Strategies to address this challenge include:
- Diversifying Revenue Streams: By investing in more domestic matches and regional tournaments, the FMF can reduce its dependency on U.S. revenue.
- Enhancing Grassroots Programs: Allocating a greater portion of revenue towards youth academies and local development programs to ensure the sustainability of soccer talent in Mexico.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Collaborating with U.S. organizations to create mutual benefits that support both the Mexican and American soccer landscapes.
The FMF’s recent partnership with U.S.-based sports media companies is a clear example of this. It aims to expand the visibility of Mexican soccer while supporting initiatives in Mexico, such as the “Futbol en las Comunidades” program, which focuses on enhancing grassroots soccer infrastructure.
The unwavering support of Mexican-American fans for the Mexican National Team is a double-edged sword. While it provides essential financial support and fosters a deep cultural connection, it also presents challenges for the FMF’s focus on domestic soccer development. To ensure the long-term advancement of Mexican soccer, a balanced approach that leverages international support while investing in local infrastructure is necessary.
For Hispanic soccer fans in the USA, engaging with both the national team and Mexican soccer leagues can help support a more holistic growth strategy. Exploring ways to contribute to domestic development or participating in community soccer initiatives can foster a more balanced and sustainable future for Mexican soccer.
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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
The Mexican National Team faced Honduras this Tuesday night, after having lost 2-0 in the first leg of the series in Tegucigalpa last week. After this result, Mexico secured a direct spot in next year’s Copa America, and advanced to the Final Four of the Concacaf Nations League, where they will face Panama in the coming march.
The game itself was everything the first leg wasn’t. The first leg saw an Hondurean team having Mexico at its mercy and playing some brilliant football at times, especially to score their goals. In turn, the Mexican team had one of their worst performances since ‘Jimmy’ Lozano became full-time coach of El Tri. For the game at the Azteca however, the Catrachos came resolved to keep the score difference, thus renouncing to the attack and waited for the counter, knowing full well that a goal by them forced Mexico to score 4 times, due to the away-goals rule.
Despite these facilities given to the Mexican team, they seemed unable to translate goal possession and control of the game into clear chances in the last quarter of the field. It was in fact Honduras who had the clearest chances, twice at the 31’. First Anthony ‘Choco’ Lozano escaped from the right and served to Luis Palma, but the striker, who plays in Scotland’s Celtic, couldn’t make contact with the ball, moments later Luis Malagon flew to save another attempt by the Houndureans. Talking about Malagon, the Club America keeper showed that he can be up to the challenge of guarding Mexico’s goal, perhaps being the best player for Mexico in the game.
Mexico pushed forward and Jesus Gallardo almost netted the first goal with a long distance shot that went slightly off target, after a corner kick taken by ‘Chucky’ Lozano. At the 43’ however, Mexico was finally successful in their attempts after a free kick goal by Luis Chavez, who once again showed off his prodigious touch of the ball.
With the hopes high, Mexico faced the second half with renewed spirits and lots of impetus to try to get the series-tying second goal. They pushed forth but once again couldn’t net their numerous attempts. It was indeed Honduras who had the clearest chance of the game when at the 60’, ‘Choco’ Lozano took a header, a few meters away from the goal, that Malagon saved impressively with mere fractions of a second to react.
The game kept on with Mexico completely going on the attack and with Honduras trying to capitalize the spaces left behind. Towards the end of the game, the Central Americans began to waste excessive amounts of time, understandably trying to lose time and break off Mexico’s vigour. The referee in turn added nine minutes to the regular time, but due to a constant stoppage of the game by the Hondurenas, he decided to add an extra two minutes.
Mexico desperately tried to get the goal that tied the series, but saw in frustration how their attempts were not completed. At the 100’ minute however, one minute before the final whistle, ‘Machin’ Alvarez impacted a ball that Santiago Gimenez had put down for him and put the ball in the net. An incredible outcome and a fair reward to Mexico’s numerous attempts.
In the added time, the game didn’t bring many emotions other than a red car on Denil Maldonado after he stamped his foot on ‘Chino’ Huerta’s leg when the Pumas attacker was coming in at high speed through the middle and into the box. A horrible aggression that could have translated into a severe injury for the Mexican player, but which fortunately ended up not being too serious. Mexico kept pushing but were unsuccessful in their continuous attempts.
With that, Honduras forced the penalties and this is where Malagon shone again. First, ‘Chaquito’ Gimenez started with the right foot the penalty series and with an impressive strike scored his shot. Then Malagon stopped Bryan Rochez’s attempt and Mexico began easing out a bit of the pressure, as every other player scored their given penalty. Said pressure came climbing once again when ‘Chino’ Huerta missed his attempt, but the referee repeated the penalty after keeper Edrick Menjivar was said to jump forth to aid his blocking attempt. Huerta took the penalty once again, with a slight stop-and-go faint that he also attempted in the first shot, and once again missed. Menjivar also repeated his jumping motion and the referee repeated the penalty for a third time. This time around, Huerta –again with the same previously inefficient feint– finally scored and relieved the tens of thousands of people in the stadium.
After this, Malagon stopped Andy Najar’s attempt and with this, handed Mexico a very suffered victory against an always complicated Honduras. The Central Americans believe that they were blatantly robbed, however, the referee added a reasonable amount of time, given all the attempts by the Hondurenas to stop the effective play-time, and also correctly repeated the penalty twice. Perhaps he could’ve repeated the first penalty that Malagon stopped, but that would be the biggest valid reproach against the referee. It’s also worth mentioning that despite giving two warning cards to the Hondurean keeper, he correctly didn’t send the player off because cards given in penalty series are not added to previous cards given during the rest of the game.
Mexico overly suffered because of the very bad game in the first leg, but were able to reverse the tide at home. Now they will prepare the most important tournament, the 2024 Copa America, and the most important games they will have, from here until the World Cup in 2026, due to them not having to play qualifying games.
Last wednesday, ‘Tuca’ Ferretti issued one of the most revealing statements in modern Mexican soccer. Ferretti, who began coaching in the early 1990’s and has won multiple leagues with various Liga MX clubs in the last 30 years, had a few stints as national coach in 2015 and 2018. Tuca came in after Miguel Herrera was unexpectedly fired, and filled in the void until the Femexfut hired a new coach. The most important game of his short administration was a match against the U.S., which would determine the representative of CONCACAF in the 2017 Confederations Cup, and he ended up winning. Later he coached the national team again after the 2018 World Cup in Qatar also as an interim coach.
Now, Ferretti is a pundit of the influential show Futbol Picante on ESPN and in this program he mentioned that the Femexfut had imposed on him a number of players that had to be called up for the national team.
Ferretti mentioned that the likes of Hector Herrera, Andres Guardado and Raul Jimenez had a preference due to the commercials that they had to shoot. They shot these ads when they concentrated with the team to play some unimportant friendly games, aptly baptized ‘moleros’ by Tuca himself.
Also, when another pundit of the show asked him if Guillermo Ochoa had to be called, he looked at the camera and blinked once as if confirming that in fact the goalkeeper had to be called. At the time Ochoa was playing with Malaga in Spain’s La Liga, but he has been a symbol of Club America, a club owned by Televisa, who in turn have a great influence in the Femexfut, as Tuca’s revelations just confirmed.
Ferretti also mentioned that those players were, in theory, the best Mexico had to offer at the time, so it wasn’t a ludicrous idea to call them. He also mentioned that he accepted this less than ideal situation because he was just an interim coach with an outstanding contract with Tigres, which he honoured even though the FMF did offer him the full time job of coaching El Tri.
These statements come at a time when the current coach has to deal with a perceived risk of being fired, due to the fact that he came to El Tri also as an interim coach, and because of his lack of experience as coach. As such, his independence of any external pressure could be easily questioned, specially when as of late there has been a campaign from the femexfut promoting the recent call-up of America’s striker Julian Quiñones. The striker recently became a naturalized Mexican citizen and the Femexfut has wildly advertised his arrival to El Tri in social media, in a move that seems to be similar to what Ferretti described.
Yesterday night at the Eagles’ stadium in Philadelphia, Mexico tied against Germany, in the second of two friendly matches after beating Ghana 2-0 over the weekend in Charlotte. These two matches represent the biggest test in technical terms for Jaime Lozano’s team since he began his tenure of El Tri, back in the Copa Oro last summer as an interim.
They made it looked easy against Ghana
In the first match against Ghana, Mexico showed a significant improvement over their previous two matches against Uzbekistan and Australia, where they tied 3-3 and 2-2 respectively. The team showed a number of attributes that allowed it to control the game despite the apparent physical inferiority. Attributes such as a relentless pressure on all parts of the pitch, a talented mid-field, two wingers that were as incisive as they were quick to take on defensive tasks, and a line of defense that was organized and with enough technical proficiency to resolve most attacks, although the Ghanians didn’t show much in terms of attack. This despite the fact that the African team boasts players that compete in Europe’s best leagues.
There are a number of individual cases that do merit extra attention. Machín Alvarez has achieved perhaps the highest level of all the men in green. Uriel Antuna is one of those players who may not shine brightly with his team week after week, but every time he wears the national shirt he delivers, and this time around against Ghana he was the best on the pitch. Lastly, Cesar Huerta showed that he is the most important Mexican young player right now, and that he is up to the challenge of becoming a game changer with the national team. We can already anticipate a tough battle against Chucky Lozano, who also had a great night scoring the first goal, to determine who will be the starter in that left wing over the longer run.
A great night against Germany
Against Germany, Jimmy Lozano sent what seems to become his preferred starting team, although there may be a few adjustments down the road. Gallardo, Montes and Vasquez are fixtures in the back, while Arteaga, who had a great match against Ghana, will have to compete with Gallardo for that left back. The right full back was successfully managed by Jorge Sanchez. In the midfield Alvarez is essential while Chavez has become another player who could see continued playtime in future important matches. A pleasant surprise was the dynamism and sacrifice given by Chiquito Sanchez, who could become another fixture of Lozano’s eleven. The likes of Pineda, Romo and Cordova will have to compete to take a spot in the midfield.
Lastly, the attack is what seems to be the best nurtured this time around. There are at least four decent options for a centre-forward: Chaquito, Raul, Martin and we can expect the arrival of Quiñones shortly. The wings are also well taken care of, with Lozano who is still the most important attacker for Mexico at a club level and with Antuna who delivers his best for El Tri, while the aforementioned Huerta will keep these two on their toes.
The team fell short of perfection against the Germans. All the attributes they showed against Ghana were intensified. The solidarity and intensity that each player showed was nothing short of moving. During the later parts of the second half it truly felt that Mexico was closer to the victory than the Europeans. Lozano mentioned at the end of the game that he tries to exploit a number of common attributes that he finds in the Mexican player, namely a willingness to run and exert high pressure, a good technique that allows them to play with the ball at high speed and with accuracy and a good disposition to play as a team. He showed this at the highest of levels against an always dangerous Germany.
Just a few things to notice in the game against the Germans. Set pieces continue to be the Achilles heel of Lozano’s Mexico and a long-standing maladie for El Tri in general. This time Germany was able to pull the same corner strategy successfully twice in a row, the second time around scoring. Also, for the attack, it is essential to be able to resolve the chances that arise against the greater teams, because many times they don’t come twice. In this regard, Santiago Gimenez didn’t have his best night, but we are sure he will deliver as he keeps growing in Europe.
The road to Copa America
The next for El Tri will be the Quarter Finals of the Concacaf Nations League against Honduras in two matches –one home and one away– in November. In case of winning, Mexico will access the 2024 Copa America directly, in case of losing they will have to play a single match against another loser of the quarterfinals to access the tournament.
A full SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles witnessed the return of Mexico to the winning path in Copa Oro. After falling against the United States in 2021, Mexico reclaimed the title against a Panamanian team that has shown an upwards trajectory since coach Thomas Christiansen joined in 2020.
Mexico came from an almost flawless tournament with four victories and one surprising loss against Qatar in group stages, they tallied 12 goals for and only 2 goals against. Meanwhile, Panama came undefeated with 11 goals for and 5 against. They had previously knocked the US out in the semifinals, although the Americans decided to bring an alternative squad to this edition of Copa Oro.
The Game
Mexico came into the game well balanced, not eager to look for the opening goal and instead prioritizing tactical order. Panama felt very confident inside the pitch, stretching the field large and wide and attacking Mexico at high speed taking advantage of the few spaces left behind by the Mexicans.
Panama had plenty of chances, mostly generated with large passes and quick counters. Mexico also had decent chances, however neither team was able to really put the other goalie to work hard, mostly because both defenses contained appropriately all attempts by the opposing team.
At the 33’ Ochoa cleared the ball, Henry headed it forwards to continue with the fast counter and Antuna held the ball and served back to Orbelin, who carried the ball forward for a few metres before opening the ball to Romo. He immediately crossed the ball to Henry Martin, who struck the ball inside the net. A magnificent counter attack by Mexico which was unfortunately called off by the var due to it being offside.
Ten minutes later, Mexico came with another clear opportunity after a corner kick. Orbelin Pineda found himself all alone in the centre of the box and shot the ball to the goal, unfortunately for Mexico, the Panamanian goalie Orlando Mosquera was able to stop the shot despite it being aimed low and to the left corner of his goal. Mosquera left the ball rebound and Henry Martin took advantage of this and struck the ball one more time, but once again Mosquera stopped it. This was the closest attempt in the game outside for the called-off goal. .
The second half
The second half of the game was also intense and well played, with plenty of approximations, but these were correctly resolved by both defenders and goalies. This time around Panama had the closest chances, with a volley that passed just a few centimeters off Ochoa’s goal at the start of the second half and a great stop by Ochoa who contained a shot by Ivan Anderson who shot a few meters off the goal.
Henry Martin had a solid game, as did the rest of his teammates, but he was subbed at the 84’ to give way to Chaquito Gimenez. Just three minutes later, Orbelin Pineda got the ball after a failed attack by Panama and gave the ball to Gimenez. Gimenez did what he does best, retain the ball when he’s facing away from the opponent’s goal and turn around with the ball controlled, he successfully used his body to cover the ball from the defender to achieve this. Usually Chaquito does this closer to the goal but this time he had to carry the ball from just past the midline all the way to the other box, however he took advantage of the fact that Panama was not well positioned defensively because of their previous attempt to attack. After this he had only the keeper to go through and with a rather weak shot he was able to pierce the net. The match winner
With this victory Mexico reasserts its dominance over the area after losing three consecutive Concacaf finals against the US. While it’s true that neither the US nor Canada came with their A-teams, and Costa Rica didn’t bring their star Keylor Navas, Mexico also left some important players like Lozano out of the competition. Also, teams like Jamaica came with an interesting team full of Premier League Players, while Panama showed that they’ve progressed a lot in the past years, and Mexico ended up beating them both.
Now with this trophy under his name, ‘Jimmy’ Lozano strengthens the case for him to remain as head coach of the national team. He has shown that he can bring the best out of these players, that he knows them well, that he can coach a national team and that he can transmit this positive energy to the fans, who have flocked back to the stadiums, after a short stint of low-attendance games. He completely transformed the national team in a matter of weeks from a sad and defeated team to one with a winning spirit and good football. The future of the Mexican national team and Lozano remains to be seen.
This Wednesday, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas saw the best game by El Tri since the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Jamaica came up as the strongest team of the tournament, with respect to the teams and leagues they play in. Six players in their roster are currently in Premier League teams: Michail Antonio (West Ham), Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) ,Demarai Gray –who won the famed 2016 EPL with Leicester– (Everton), and their star Leon Bailey (Aston Villa). Additionally, they also have Shamar Nicholson, who plays in Spartak Moscow and youngsters such as Di’Shon Bernard, who belongs to Manchester United but is loaned out.
This is no coincidence, the Jamaican Football Federation has exhaustively tried to convince as many English-born players who are eligible to play with Jamaica as possible to do so. In some cases such as with Antonio and Gray, they were even called up by England’s national team but didn’t make their debut with the senior team.
With this in mind, many anticipated this to be the hardest match for Mexico in the Copa Oro, with some pundits even anticipating a loss for Lozano’s team. The game however was nothing further from the truth, as Mexico hit the Reggae Boyz early in the game with a great play that began with a long pass from Romo to Gallardo on the left, the left back/winger crossed the ball rather poorly, but it deflected to Henry Martin, who was right in the middle of the box, he got the ball and shot it into the net. Another early goal for Lozano’s Mexico, who from this point on would take control of the game.
After the goal, Mexico didn’t seem desperate to go on the attack, instead covering their spaces in the defence appropriately and not allowing Jamaica’s stars to get the ball in a comfortable position. At the 30’, Luis Chavez took a free kick, emulating that superb goal he scored against Saudi Arabia in the last World Cup, and once again put the ball right into the top-right corner, having previously gone past the defense wall with a curve à la Roberto Carlos against France. An incredible goal.
After the goal, Mexico was the complete master of the game. The second half was also correctly controlled by El Tri with most of Jamaica’s attempts coming in with set pieces, but without creating real troubles for Mexico. The closest attempt for the Caribbean team came in at the 74’, when Luis Romo lost the ball in the midfield and allowed Jamaica to create a play that reached Ochoa, but without major concerns.
At stoppage time and just when it seemed that Mexico bagged a comfortable 2-0 victory against the toughest rival yet, Diego Lainez clumsily dribbled past one defender and lobbed a beautiful pass to Gallardo, he skillfully dribbled past his defender and crossed the ball to Chaquito Gimenez, who couldn’t contact the ball, but since the defender went to stop Gimenez, this allowed Roberto Alvarado to come into the little box completely by himself, and with that, he could easily scored the third goal for Mexico.
With this victory Mexico is in another final of the Gold Cup, and will face an always tough Panama, who surprised and kicked the Americans out in the other semifinals. If Lozano brings the Cup back to Mexico, his case to remain as permanent coach of El Tri will be strengthened, and not only because of the victories, but because he has shown that he can bring the best out of this team. If he was able to completely turn around Cocca’s grey team in a few days, it would be interesting to see what he can achieve in the longer run.
During the Gold Cup match against Qatar this past Sunday, there was a violent incident amongst el Tri fans, with one person being stabbed and two suspects being searched by the police.
At 20:47 pacific time, Santa Clara Police officers responded to a fight inside Levi’s stadium. There have been videos and pictures circulating around social media of a man, visibly injured and with considerable amounts of blood, as well as of the suspect holding a knife in his hand.
The victim was taken to the hospital with an injury near the collarbone. His condition was reported as stable. The suspect fled the scene and Santa Clara police are asking citizens for input to facilitate his capture.
If you recognize the person in the picture, please contact Detective Sgt. Gerbrandt at (408) 615-4823. To remain anonymous, call (408) 615-4847.
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.
