Every elimination, we see a new face at the helm of El Tri or the Mexican National Team. However, today’s performance after shaking their scoring drought with two goals, fell short of advancing into the next round.
We can say a first as many in this soccer loving nation expected this time that with manager Tata Martino, things were going to work for the better it worked for the worst in the end. As for some of its veteran players, they perhaps played their last World Cup finishing with no honor and glory.
Since 1994, the Mexican National Team had advanced into the round of 16, but not today as they fell short of a goal that in the end as the Saudi defense became too stingy.
The Saudis eventually took advantage of the vulnerable El Tri backfield, scoring in the 95th minute through Salem Al Dawsari.
Not only we can talk about Mexico’s missing that elusive fifth game, this time it became the elusive fourth game in a total embarrassment for a team with a number of a topsy- turvy internationals riddled with internal friction and possible fallout.
Now, the Mexican Federation again starts its search for a new manager to lead the team in the upcoming World Cup hosted by Mexico, United States, and Canada.
Seeing the preferential side of manager Tata Martino leaving a number of notable players out including the likes of MLSers Carlos Vela and “Chicharito” Hernandez as well Santiago Jimenez who is considered a top prospect.
As his decisions became in the end a domino effect with results evidently embarrassing for a nation putting its hopes in its national team and in the end, delivering total disappointment and frustration.
Once again, it’s back to the drawing board and for Mexico’s Federation looking for answers and most of all solutions to move onto the next stages, but when will the Mexican National team overcome that complex to move on and become a winning team?
A team that put its sights in winning, they can roll all over anyone and in the past they have been on the nose by defeating top class teams in international competitions. Today, it was no exception in how they dominated in the stats, but falling short of their objective as well scoring that third and maybe fourth goals.
With a possession of 60.7 % over the Saudis’ mere 39.3% and dominating in total shots with 26 and 11 at goal versus the Saudis’ 10 and just 2 at goal, the latter still managed a last-minute goal in stoppage time.
The era of Martino being over in the helm of the Mexican National Team is over, and the next manager will have to get the full commitment of his players and the ones to come ahead of 2026. After all, continuity will be a positive and elemental for El Tri in its future. I must say, the Mexican Federation for needs to bring a Mexican manager or at least a foreigner with ties to the Mexican league.
The team could and should deliver, but in my assumption is that no room for mourning or what could happen. What is done is done and now to plan ahead for the next World Cup.
El Tri
