Saturday 28 / September / 2024
MEXICO face the toughest of starts - a clash with defending champions Germany in Moscow - as they try to break a 24-year jinx that has seen them fall at the last-16 stage at each of the last six World Cup tournaments.
Their next two games, against South Korea and Sweden, appear more winnable on paper. But the plausible outcome, a second-place finish in Group F, could lead them straight into a knockout tie with Brazil, the expected victors in Group E.
So breaking the Groundhog Day curse will be tough for the team known as El Tri, despite the fact they dominated their CONCACAF qualifying group and have posted some promising results in friendlies against tough opponents.
Coached by Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, they have won 30, drawn eight and lost seven of his 45 games in charge. But some of those defeats have been traumatic - notably a 7-0 massacre by Chile at the Copa America and a 4-1 loss to Germany in the Confederations Cup in Russia last year.
Osorio has faced frequent criticism in the national media, especially over his record of experimenting with dozens of different players - a total of 66 to date.
The question is whether he has learned lessons from episodes like the German drubbing, and is getting closer to discovering his best team.
There are signs that might be happening. In the past six months, the Mexicans have beaten Poland, Bosnia and Iceland in friendlies - the last a 3-0 win against a side that made the quarterfinals of Euro 2016.
They held highly-ranked Belgium to a 3-3 draw in November, and spoiled their run of form only with a 1-0 loss to Croatia in late March.
Players to watch include spectacular goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defender Hector Moreno and the attacking pair of Hirving Lozano, 22, and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, 29.
Mexico’s fans are also expected to present a colourful spectacle but they will have to watch their step.
World soccer’s governing body FIFA last year warned Mexico over “insulting and discriminatory” chants by a small group of supporters during a 2-2 draw with Portugal at the Confederations Cup in Russia.
It had previously fined Mexico for fans’ homophobic chants during the side’s World Cup qualifying games. Mexican players in 2016 launched their own campaign against homophobic slurs during matches.
Factbox FIFA ranking:
Previous tournaments
Mexico have fallen at the last-16 stage in each of the last six World Cups - a record of extraordinary consistency but also a source of deep frustration for a soccer-mad country. Their latest painful exit was a 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands in 2014, after the award of a controversial late penalty.
Coach: Juan Carlos Osorio
He had previously coached club sides in the United States, Mexico and his native Colombia, but his appointment in 2015 raised eyebrows because of his lack of experience at international level. Under Osorio, Mexico have 30 wins, eight draws and seven defeats from 45 matches but he has been criticised for his constant experimentation, deploying no fewer than 66 players. He was disciplined by FIFA for insulting match officials at a game against Portugal in the Confederations Cup last year.
Key players
Guillermo Ochoa: The goalkeeper was Mexico’s standout player at the last World Cup, with two man-of-the-match awards. He shut out hosts Brazil in a draw that put Mexico through to the knockout stage, then repeatedly frustrated the Netherlands before being beaten twice in the closing minutes. His experience and agility will be key assets in a Mexican team that is brimming with attacking talent but could be stretched in defence.
Hirving Lozano: The pacy winger has been a revelation at PSV Eindhoven this season, with 17 goals from 29 appearances in the Dutch top flight. A skilful dribbler and set-piece specialist, he scored twice in an entertaining 3-3 draw away to Belgium last November.
Javier Hernandez: ‘Chicharito’ is Mexico’s record international scorer, with 49 goals, but only three of those came in his two previous appearances at the World Cup finals. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen striker has endured a difficult season on returning to the English Premier League with West Ham United, but at 29 the hugely popular Hernandez is still one of Mexico’s most influential players.
Form guide
Mexico have three wins, two losses and a draw from their last six games - defeats against Honduras and Croatia, wins over Poland, Bosnia and Iceland, and a draw against Belgium.
How they qualified
Mexico finished the CONCACAF eliminator in first place with 21 points: six wins, three draws and one defeat. Their only loss in the final qualifying stage came in the last round against Honduras, when they were already assured of top spot.
Prospects
Mexico are drawn in Group F with Sweden, South Korea and defending champions Germany, whom they play in their opening game in Moscow on June 17. With the Germans expected to top the group, Mexico are likely to face a tough path even if they advance to the knockout stage, where they risk coming up against Brazil in the last 16.
