Mexico wins back fans, still faces familiar World

MEXICO CITY — After what might have been the most important recreation in the Mexican national crew’s World Cup historical past, coach Javier Aguirre hugged each of his 26 gamers.

The embraces weren’t to have a good time a victory. They have been hugs of gratitude, encouragement and, above all, resignation.

Minutes earlier, the gamers paraded around Azteca Stadium — historically an impenetrable fortress — to applaud El Tri followers with tears in their eyes. Mexico had just misplaced 3-2 to England, extinguishing the hope that it might parlay its World Cup co-host position into the deepest match run in the nation’s historical past.

The objective was to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1986 and, above all, to show the world that Mexican soccer finally had taken the leap that had been demanded for so long — defeating a past world champion, England, that hadn’t regarded notably dominant. But actuality, once again, hit exhausting as the loss grew to become Mexico’s eighth defeat in the spherical of 16 since 1994.

This time, Mexico had the assist of its followers, taking part in on home soil. And it wasn’t enough.

“I’m satisfied with the work we’ve done, but when you lose — and I’ve lost a lot in my career — you never quite get over it,” Aguirre said. “It’s very painful because dreaming gives us hope; losing this way hurts a lot.”

After weeks of celebrations following wins over South Africa, South Korea, Czechia and Ecuador, Mexico failed the check against England, ranked fourth in the world. El Tri dominated possession but couldn’t convert it into targets, while the English have been medical, led by Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

For Aguirre, the loss reopened a familiar wound. In the 2002, Mexico misplaced 2-0 to a U.S. squad led by Landon Donovan in what many contemplate the most painful defeat in the nation’s World Cup historical past. This defeat to England very nicely might rival it.

“I would have liked to win five games, to leave home with five victories. That hurts — it hurts a lot,” Aguirre said. “A loss is a loss. Our opponent didn’t make the same mistakes we did.”

Judging Aguirre solely on the end of this World Cup run can be simplistic given what he inherited. Two years in the past, he was requested to lead the struggling crew for the third time. When he arrived, Mexico was ranked seventeenth in the world and had not received the Nations League. He leaves with Mexico ranked in the top 10 and as Nations League champion and two-time defending Gold Cup champion.

This World Cup wasn’t the catastrophe that Qatar was 4 years in the past, when Mexico was eradicated in the group stage. This summer season, Mexico secured its first knockout-round victory since 1986, superior to a fifth World Cup match for the second time and swept three video games during the group stage without conceding a objective — one thing no other Mexican crew achieved.

In 22 months at the helm — having taken over in 2024 following Jaime Lozano’s failure at the Copa América, where Mexico failed to advance past the group stage — Aguirre achieved one thing that went past the scoreboard by uniting gamers beforehand accused of having an excessive amount of ego and preferring not to sacrifice to help the crew.

At this World Cup, that squad gave its all — physique and soul — and rebuilt a relationship with the followers that had appeared damaged since the 2024 Copa América. Thousands of followers crammed the Ángel de la Independencia, the Zócalo and other squares across the nation, as nicely as watch events in cities like Los Angeles.

“We managed to restore the pride of being part of the national team — for the national anthem and for its people. It’s a privilege to be here, and they know it,” Aguirre said of his gamers. “I think we’ve returned to a Mexican identity.”

Green jerseys have been seen all over Mexico as people set apart their variations to cheer on El Tri.

“Mexico was the best host of the three. It had the best atmosphere — it’s a country that truly loves soccer,” Mexico City native Santiago Mondragón said before the England match.

Mexico had standout and impressed performances from Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora and Roberto Alvarado, but its lineup struggled to keep tempo with English gamers educated at elite European golf equipment.

Mora, just 17 years outdated and with great potential, made a mistake on the play main to England’s second objective. Alvarado, who supplied strong passes to Raúl Jiménez and was stable in protection throughout the match, misplaced observe of Bellingham on the first objective. Raúl Rangel, who was excellent against South Korea and who three years in the past was taking part in for Tapatío in the Mexican enlargement league, stepped too far ahead on the penalty kick that sealed the match, minutes after an English participant was despatched off in the second half. Edson Álvarez, who didn’t have a good season with Turkey’s Fenerbahce because of an injury, obtained little taking part in time and made a severe mistake marking Kane, which led to Gordon’s breakaway on the play that resulted in the penalty kick.

Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez will get tangled with England’s Ezri Konsa while going for the ball during a World Cup Round of 16 match at Azteca Stadium on July 5.

(Francois Nel / Getty Images)

Following the loss, many in Mexico still are questioning why, despite having a one-man benefit for 36 minutes —plus 11 minutes of stoppage time — the crew was unable to tie England. Aguirre changed Mora and goal-scorer Julián Quiñones, bringing on an attacking lineup that centered on sending in crosses, which the English protection simply cleared.

While it’s attainable a few modifications might have shifted the match in Mexico’s favor, there have been limits to how a lot the technical employees might get out of the roster.

El Tri lacks adequate depth to assemble a really aggressive 26-man roster, as gamers such as Álvarez and Santiago Giménez didn’t arrive at their best kind, and gamers such as Brian Gutiérrez weren’t prepared for the strain of a match of this magnitude, in need of more time to develop.

Mexico lacked game-changing gamers succesful of breaking down tight defenses — the position Hirving Lozano performed in 2018 or Giovani Dos Santos in 2014. The lack of creativity that confirmed against Saudi Arabia in 2022 flared up late against England.

Thanks to Jiménez and Quiñones, the crew did show firepower, scoring 10 targets in 5 matches, but it lacked depth to break down a well-organized English protection.

The expertise pool has been hindered by the Mexico membership system.

Mexico’s Julián Quiñones is tossed in the air by teammates as they have a good time a Round of 32 World Cup win over Ecuador at Azteca Stadium on June 30.

(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

Liga MX homeowners preserve a slim view of home soccer, prioritizing international signings over the development of local gamers and promotion and relegation stay abolished — eradicating aggressive strain that is the spine of English leagues.

Top Mexican gamers continue to be overvalued by their home golf equipment, which makes it tough for European golf equipment to signal them when there are cheaper choices with more spectacular résumés.

“This was the opportunity; that’s why it’s frustrating, that’s why it’s sad,” Mexican journalist Javier Alarcón said of El Tri’s World Cup exit. “With the Mexican federation and its owners, there isn’t much hope.”

Rafael Márquez, a former FC Barcelona star and one of the best gamers in Mexican national crew historical past, is succeeding Aguirre after serving as one of his assistant coaches. Márquez has fashioned a close bond with gamers, who tossed the 47-year-old former defender in the air after one of their World Cup wins, and is familiar with all the explanations Mexico continues to hit the same World Cup wall.

“Rafa is a great guy, a great coach,” said Aguirre, who famous that the crew’s average age has dropped and that more and more gamers are taking part in in Europe. “Hopefully he can do better than we were able to.”