Mexico's National Football Team Faces Growing Pressure After Recent Struggles
Mexico's national football team has experienced a series of disappointments, culminating in their early exit from the 2022 World Cup at the group stage. This recurrent underachievement in major tournaments has heightened scrutiny and fan expectations, particularly as Mexico prepares to host the World Cup in two years.
The recent performance in the Copa America provided a microcosm of Mexico’s struggles. Despite demonstrating dominance in possession and creating numerous opportunities, Mexico’s efforts fell short. In their critical match against Ecuador, they controlled nearly 60% of the ball and outshot their opponents 19-9. However, their inability to convert these chances into goals was glaring, with Mexico taking 13 shots before managing their first effort on target in the 65th minute. This inefficiency was reflected in their expected goals tally, which stood at a mere 0.86 for the match against Ecuador.
Over the three Copa America games, Mexico managed only one goal, despite an overall expected goals tally of 4.71. Defensively, they were solid, conceding just one goal during the group stage. However, the lack of finishing power up front proved to be their Achilles' heel. None of the current players have more than 13 international goals, underlining the need for a proven goal scorer.
One player who has shown promise at the club level is Santiago Gimenez. The young forward had a stellar season with Feyenoord, netting 26 goals and providing eight assists in Europe. Yet, this form has not translated to the international stage, where Gimenez has managed just four goals in 30 appearances for Mexico. This disparity adds to the concerns surrounding the attacking options available to the national team.
Nevertheless, there have been some bright spots. Jaime Lozano, initially brought in as an interim coach, earned his full-time position after guiding Mexico to victory in the Concacaf Gold Cup. This triumph offered a glimmer of hope and stability, showcasing Lozano’s potential to develop and maximize the squad's capabilities. However, the team's unspectacular outings in the Concacaf Nations League over the past year and a half indicate that consistency remains elusive.
The pressure now mounts for Lozano and his team as they prepare for the forthcoming World Cup on home soil. The expectations from a fervent fanbase are higher than ever, and the team must address its shortcomings soon. The recent string of results, marked by promising buildups yet disappointing conclusions, reveals a team in desperate need of rediscovering its clinical edge.
As the clock ticks towards 2026, the Mexican national team will need to find a balance between their potential and execution. While they have the raw talent and have shown flashes of brilliance, converting this into sustained success remains the primary challenge. The pieces are there; it is now up to Jaime Lozano and his staff to piece them together into a cohesive unit capable of meeting the lofty expectations of both fans and critics alike.