By Jonny Rico
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The Mexican National Team heads into a unique and a once in a lifetime summer. The summer will include a Copa America like no other in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary. And it will included El Tri’s title defense at the summer Olympic Games in Rio.
It all starts on Saturday May 28 with a preparation friendly match in Atlanta, GA against Paraguay and continues to San Diego, CA for a preparation match against Chile on Wednesday June 1. Following the two friendlies, it’s showtime! El Tri makes its Copa America Centenario debut on Monday June 6 against South America powerhouse Uruguay in Phoenix, AZ.
The youth squad heading to Brazil for the Summer Olympic Games will make its tournament debut on Thursday Aug. 4 against Germany. It will also face Figi and South Korea.
OSORIO, FIRST MANAGER TO HAVE A SHOT AT WINNING COPA AMERICA IN A LONG TIME
On field success mixed with off field shenanigans led to the controversial dismissal of former Mexican National Team manager Miguel Herrera. ‘Piojo’ Herrera had put in a good performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and while struggling managed to win the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
His replacement, Juan Carlos Osorio, was hired after rumors of bigger name managers circled through the national media. Osorio has dealt with the pressure and games he’s faced so far rather well. But he still hasn’t faced any stiff competition. Copa America will be he’s first real test.
Since 1993 The Mexican National Team has been an invited guest to South America’s continental competition. El Tri, led by Miguel Mejia Baron, made a run to the final in its first participation. It fell 2-1 to Argentina having played toe-to-toe against the powerhouse once in the group stage (1-1 final) and again in the Final.
El Tri made another Final in 2001 under the direction of Javier Aguirre. In that tournament Mexico defeated Brazil its opening match and made a run t the championship, it fell short at the final suffering a 1-0 loss to host Colombia. Besides the two runners up finishes, Mexico has gone on to place in third place on three occasions: 1997, 1999 and 2007.
Hugo Sanchez in 2007 was the last Mexican manager to take a competitive squad made up of the best available players. Since then El Tri has been sending reserve squads saving its best players for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Juan Carlos Osorio will be the first manager in nearly a decade to have the best Mexican players available for a Copa America. Mexico will also enjoy “home-field” advantage for the first time. The Mexican Soccer Federation officials have long tried to negotiate with CONMEBOL to host a Copa America but every time the request was denied due to Mexico’s invitee status.
A CHANCE TO TURN SOMETHING HISTORIC INTO SOMETHING LEGENDARY
Winning the Gold Medal at the Summer Olympic Games was something no one could imagine for Mexico before 2012. What the Mexican National Team did in London embodies what the word “historic” means. Especially considering the opponent in the Final, Brazil, the 5-time World Champion Brazil who had never won an Olympic Gold Medal and was/still is desperate for one.
A new generation of Mexican soccer players can now turn that historic feat into something legendary four years later. Raul Gutierrez, who already knows what international glory taste like having led the Mexican National Team to a FIFA U-17 World Cup title, will led the a squad which will base its core on that World Cup winning team.
Gutierrez has managed this group of players for over five years, they’ve lived the highs like the U-17 World Cup and they’ve lived the lows like the U-20 World Cup and the recent Toulon Tournament.
‘El Potro’ Gutierrez will lead his team right into Brazil where the host are more desperate than ever for that Gold Medal and will once again try to upset the Amazonians.
Mexico will start off with a very difficult test. It opens the tournament against Germany, a game that could set the tone for the rest of the competition. This generation of Mexicans and Germans have already crossed paths. In the 2011 U-17 World Cup semifinal match. Mexico took a first half 1-0 lead. Germany turned it around in the second half and led 2-1. Late in the game Mexico tied the game with a goal direct from a corner kick by Jonathan Espericueta. Teammate Julio Gomez had a nasty clash of heads with a German defender which left his face covered in blood. Minutes later Gomez, all wrapped up in the head, scored the winning goal with a bicycle kick sending Mexico to the final.
The Mexican youth teams have been known to produce magic out of nowhere. We all wait to see what it can bring in Brazil.
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