GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mexico’s vessel has sunk.
Navigating by the uneven waters of the Copa América, El Tri and supervisor Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano failed to achieve the security of the event’s knockout spherical after a dismal group stage exit. With 4 factors in hand after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador, the Concacaf aspect slumped to a closing place at third in Group B, thereby leaving them and not using a place within the quarterfinal stage.
“We have now 90 minutes [left] and nobody is getting off this ship and we’ll make it,” mentioned Lozano a couple of days forward of the sport, figuring out he was in a must-win state of affairs after shedding 1-0 to Venezuela on Wednesday. “We will make it, of that I am certain.”
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Considerably symbolically for El Tri, and Lozano’s scorching seat on the deck of his ship that may quickly capsize, temperatures on Sunday reached a sweltering 110 levels outdoors of Arizona’s State Farm Stadium that was finally full of 62,565 in attendance.
Versus the same old pre-game tailgate ambiance at Mexico video games that is typically full of banda, barbecues, and beer, the anticipatory events have been restricted because of the oppressive warmth. With many hiding beneath shade that did little to chill them off, and others shortly dashing into the air-conditioned venue, celebrations earlier than the match have been held to a minimal due to the overbearing desert solar.
Or, maybe, as a consequence of figuring out what was about to unfold for a coach and group of Mexico gamers which have been underwhelming on the Copa.
Much like what occurred towards Venezuela, El Tri didn’t do sufficient to capitalize on their probabilities within the closing third. Some followers have pointed to separate conditions that would have given Mexico penalties throughout the match vs. Ecuador, however these choices in the end felt like excuses for the Concacaf giants that had sufficient alternatives to search out the again of the web.
Lozano ought to (and can) be criticized for not guiding his staff to a victory and for less than having the ability to safe one objective over 270+ minutes of play within the Copa, however the gamers themselves must also be significantly questioned. In a venture that has aimed to construct in direction of the 2026 World Cup with out the likes of growing older veterans akin to Guillermo Ochoa, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Raúl Jiménez, no participant was capable of step up on Sunday and grow to be the brand new game-changer or contemporary face that may carry Mexico on his shoulders.
A golden platform in a serious event was given for these subsequent in line, and it turned apparent with every passing minute that extremely gifted attacking gamers akin to Santiago Giménez, Julián Quiñones and César Huerta, amongst others, weren’t going to search out the again of the web.
Voicing their very own frustrations throughout the dying minutes, Mexico’s followers marred the match with the return of an anti-gay goalkeeper chant, a cowardly response and standard prevalence from El Tri’s supporters that usually emerges within the face of unfavorable outcomes.
A lifeline for Mexico then emerged by a penalty name in damage time after substitute striker Guillermo Martínez was probably fouled within the 18-yard field, nevertheless, the choice was appropriately overruled by VAR, cementing the scoreless consequence.
Group B
GPWDLGDPTS1 – Venezuela3300592 – Ecuador3111143 – Mexico3111044 – Jamaica3003-601, 2: Qualifies for quarterfinals
By the ultimate whistle, Mexico’s vessel had fallen to items. Whether or not Lozano will go down with the ship stays to be seen.
Earlier coaches have been fired for much less by the Mexican Soccer Federation and, regardless of Lozano trying to pressure a generational change together with his experimental roster, it is robust to say that any actual shifts have been made. Promising to construct one thing forward of the World Cup with out high-profile leaders Ochoa, Lozano and Jimenez, there was a way that El Tri would use the event as a testing floor.
One may forgive Lozano if he gave alternatives to the following technology on the danger of failing on the Copa, however the actuality is that he performed it protected. Not solely did Mexico crash out of the group stage, additionally they did so with conservative in-game roster choices.
Up-and-comers like Marcelo Flores, Bryan González, and Jesús Orozco weren’t given a single minute within the event. Of Mexico’s eight gamers which can be beneath the age of 25, solely two (Gimenez and Huerta) got begins, and of these two, solely Gimenez was given greater than a single begin. Lozano did not shake issues up roster-wise as a lot as he merely omitted a couple of of Mexico’s superstars that have been previous their peak, after which did no risk-taking together with his XIs.
With out a place within the knockouts, with no actual minutes given to younger and promising gamers, and maybe with no job quickly for Lozano, Mexico have re-entered a well-known disaster.
What the Copa highlights is that El Tri’s failure this summer season is not an sudden glitch, it is a part of a wider and ongoing sample of regression that has now been occurring and lengthening for years. Actually, the one true glitch was Mexico lifting 2023’s Concacaf Gold Cup title.
Mexico are and not using a trophy in all three of their Nations League runs, Mexico exited the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, Mexico didn’t qualify for the 2024 Olympics, and now, Mexico have exited the group stage in three of their final 4 appearances within the Copa.
Mexico’s disastrous early exit within the Copa is not stunning, it is now the norm for a staff that after dreamed of turning into part of the elite on a worldwide scale.
With or with out Lozano, the clock is ticking for El Tri with simply two years to go till the World Cup. Earlier than they will aspire of success within the main event that they’re going to co-host, they’re first going to wish to select up and put again collectively the shattered items of what was as soon as a proud ship.