Mexico did not fairly crash out of the 2024 Copa América; it slumped, regularly, impotently, to an early exit.
It drew Ecuador 0-0 on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, failing to attain for a second consecutive recreation — and dropping the prospect to grab a dramatic stoppage-time winner after VAR overturned a penalty.
The draw doomed Mexico to 3rd place in Group B, behind Ecuador and Venezuela. And it kick-started an extended summer time of questions on this technology of Mexican gamers, in regards to the system that produced them, and about whether or not head coach Jaime Lozano is the appropriate man to steer them towards the 2026 World Cup.
On Sunday, they opened with vitality and depth, with the need of prideful gamers determined to raise their soccer-obsessed nation — however incapable of doing so.
They hurtled into tackles and plunged into 50-50 duels. They sometimes received the ball excessive up the sphere, and energized a roaring crowd in Arizona — however even after they did, they hardly created any clear-cut possibilities.
Each time they ventured into the ultimate third, they conjured zero creativity.
Each time they formulated a intelligent cross of their brains, no teammate moved off the ball to carry that cross to life.
Each time they wound as much as shoot, or leapt for a header, they fired photographs excessive or extensive. None of their 10 first-half makes an attempt ended up on course.
Each toothless incursion recalled the phrases of U.S. defender Tim Ream in March.
“We knew they had been predictable. It is essentially the most direct Mexico crew that there is been,” Ream stated after beating Mexico 2-0. “We knew precisely what was coming, and we knew precisely the best way to make the sport ours.”
Ecuador, certainly, did too.
The Ecuadorians additionally knew they wanted solely a draw. Their objectives towards Venezuela and Jamaica in earlier video games gave them a bonus on purpose differential. In order that they knew they might advance to a quarterfinal towards Argentina with out scoring once more. The onus was on Mexico to discover a purpose, disrupt Group B’s desk, and sneak into second place.
And El Tri couldn’t.
They howled for penalties, however by no means obtained one.
Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez bustled into the field, however didn’t seem like the fearsome striker he’s been within the Netherlands.
Luis Romo lastly fired Mexico’s first shot on course after 64 minutes, but it surely was proper down the throat of Ecuadorian keeper Alexander Domínguez.
Julián Quiñones examined Dominguez a minute later; and Giménez pounced on the rebound, however hit the publish. They merely couldn’t rating.
In order that they had been the primary high seed to perish on the 2024 Copa América.
Their seed, although, was misleading. They had been, on paper, the second-best crew in CONCACAF, however they’re within the midst of a long-overdue rebuild. Lozano, apparently with extra job safety than some predecessors, omitted a number of mainstays, together with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Raúl Jiménez, from his 26-man roster for the event. The thought was to interrupt in unheralded home stars who’d been blocked on depth charts by nationwide crew veterans, however who may presumably contribute come 2026.
“We’re two years away from our World Cup,” Duilio Davino, Mexico’s sporting director, stated after the squad was introduced. “[As co-hosts,] we have now our spot secured, and we need to benefit from this nice alternative to not take into consideration the immediacy of the consequence and venture our path to 2026.”
Lozano, talking on the similar information convention in Mexico Metropolis, agreed: “What’s most vital is what we’re constructing in the direction of 2026 and 2030. If we give attention to outcomes, we’ll find yourself precisely the place we nearly all the time do.”
In order that they conceded, implicitly, that they in all probability wouldn’t win this Copa América.
However followers nonetheless anticipated greater than this, a couple of purpose in 270 minutes, greater than a group-stage exit that supplied little-to-no proof of progress.
As a substitute, it supplied a reminder that the rebuild has been compelled, that the generational transition has been something however natural. It hasn’t been accelerated by a promising wave of kids. It has been dictated from above by officers in the hunt for new blood, whether or not that new blood will ever be sturdy sufficient to tug Mexico again to the place it believes it belongs, in or all over the world’s high 10 worldwide soccer groups.
The caveat right here at Copa América, and maybe the handy excuse for failure, is that El Tri’s captain and most achieved participant, Edson Álvarez, limped out of the event 27 minutes into Mexico’s opener.
However the finish consequence was unequivocal.
Venezuela, which has by no means certified for a World Cup, topped the group with 9 factors, and can face Canada in a single quarterfinal Friday in Arlington, Texas.
Ecuador will get Argentina in one other Thursday in Houston.
Mexico will not play one other aggressive recreation till November.
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