Mexico Wins Back Fans But Is Still Searching For Ways To Pass Familiar World Cup Wall

MEXICO CITY — After what whitethorn person been nan astir important crippled successful nan Mexican nationalist team’s World Cup history, coach Javier Aguirre hugged each of his 26 players.

The embraces weren’t to observe a victory. They were hugs of gratitude, encouragement and, supra all, resignation.

Minutes earlier, nan players paraded astir Azteca Stadium — traditionally an impenetrable wall — to applaud El Tri fans pinch tears successful their eyes. Mexico had conscionable mislaid 3-2 to England, extinguishing nan dream that it could parlay its World Cup co-host domiciled into nan deepest tourney tally successful nan country’s history.

The extremity was to beforehand to nan quarterfinals for nan first clip since 1986 and, supra all, to show nan world that Mexican shot yet had taken nan leap that had been demanded for truthful agelong — defeating a past world champion, England, that hadn’t looked peculiarly dominant. But reality, erstwhile again, deed difficult arsenic nan nonaccomplishment became Mexico’s eighth conclusion successful nan information of 16 since 1994.

This time, Mexico had nan support of its fans, playing connected location soil. And it wasn’t enough.

“I’m satisfied pinch nan activity we’ve done, but erstwhile you suffer — and I’ve mislaid a batch successful my profession — you ne'er rather get complete it,” Aguirre said. “It’s very achy because dreaming gives america hope; losing this measurement hurts a lot.”

Mexico fans show their support earlier their squad faced England successful a Round of 16 World Cup lucifer astatine Azteca Stadium connected July 5.

(Richard Pelham / Getty Images)

After weeks of celebrations pursuing wins complete South Africa, South Korea, Czechia and Ecuador, Mexico grounded nan trial against England, classed 4th successful nan world. El Tri dominated possession but could not person it into goals, while nan English were clinical, led by Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

For Aguirre, nan nonaccomplishment reopened a acquainted wound. In nan 2002, Mexico mislaid 2-0 to a U.S. squad led by Landon Donovan successful what galore see nan astir achy conclusion successful nan country’s World Cup history. This conclusion to England very good could rival it.

“I would person liked to triumph 5 games, to time off location pinch 5 victories. That hurts — it hurts a lot,” Aguirre said. “A nonaccomplishment is simply a loss. Our force didn’t make nan aforesaid mistakes we did.”

Judging Aguirre solely connected nan extremity of this World Cup tally would beryllium simplistic fixed what he inherited. Two years ago, he was asked to lead nan struggling squad for nan 3rd time. When he arrived, Mexico was classed 17th successful nan world and had not won nan Nations League. He leaves pinch Mexico classed successful nan apical 10 and arsenic Nations League champion and two-time defending Gold Cup champion.

This World Cup wasn’t nan disaster that Qatar was 4 years ago, erstwhile Mexico was eliminated successful nan group stage. This summer, Mexico secured its first knockout-round triumph since 1986, precocious to a 5th World Cup lucifer for nan 2nd clip and swept 3 games during nan group shape without conceding a extremity — thing nary different Mexican squad achieved.

In 22 months astatine nan helm — having taken complete successful 2024 pursuing Jaime Lozano’s nonaccomplishment astatine nan Copa América, wherever Mexico grounded to beforehand past nan group shape — Aguirre achieved thing that went beyond nan scoreboard by uniting players antecedently accused of having excessively overmuch ego and preferring not to sacrifice to thief nan team.

At this World Cup, that squad gave its each — assemblage and psyche — and rebuilt a narration pinch nan fans that had seemed surgery since nan 2024 Copa América. Thousands of fans filled nan Ángel de la Independencia, nan Zócalo and different squares crossed nan country, arsenic good arsenic watch parties successful cities for illustration Los Angeles.

“We managed to reconstruct nan pridefulness of being portion of nan nationalist squad — for nan nationalist anthem and for its people. It’s a privilege to beryllium here, and they cognize it,” Aguirre said of his players. “I deliberation we’ve returned to a Mexican identity.”

Green jerseys were seen each complete Mexico arsenic group group speech their differences to cheer connected El Tri.

“Mexico was nan champion big of nan three. It had nan champion ambiance — it’s a state that genuinely loves soccer,” Mexico City autochthonal Santiago Mondragón said earlier nan England match.

Mexico had standout and inspired performances from Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora and Roberto Alvarado, but its lineup struggled to support gait pinch English players trained astatine elite European clubs.

Mora, conscionable 17 years aged and pinch tremendous potential, made a correction connected nan play starring to England’s 2nd goal. Alvarado, who provided beardown passes to Raúl Jiménez and was coagulated successful defense passim nan tournament, mislaid way of Bellingham connected nan first goal. Raúl Rangel, who was outstanding against South Korea and who 3 years agone was playing for Tapatío successful nan Mexican description league, stepped excessively acold guardant connected nan punishment footwear that sealed nan match, minutes aft an English subordinate was sent disconnected successful nan 2nd half. Edson Álvarez, who did not person a bully play pinch Turkey’s Fenerbahce because of an injury, received small playing clip and made a superior correction marking Kane, which led to Gordon’s breakaway connected nan play that resulted successful nan punishment kick.

Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez gets tangled pinch England’s Ezri Konsa while going for nan shot during a World Cup Round of 16 lucifer astatine Azteca Stadium connected July 5.

(Francois Nel / Getty Images)

Following nan loss, galore successful Mexico still are wondering why, contempt having a one-man advantage for 36 minutes —plus 11 minutes of stoppage clip — nan squad was incapable to necktie England. Aguirre replaced Mora and goal-scorer Julián Quiñones, bringing connected an attacking lineup that focused connected sending successful crosses, which nan English defense easy cleared.

While it’s imaginable a fewer changes could person shifted nan lucifer successful Mexico’s favor, location were limits to really overmuch nan method unit could get retired of nan roster.

El Tri lacks capable extent to combine a genuinely competitory 26-man roster, arsenic players specified arsenic Álvarez and Santiago Giménez didn’t get astatine their champion form, and players specified arsenic Brian Gutiérrez weren’t fresh for nan unit of a tourney of this magnitude, successful request of much clip to develop.

Mexico lacked game-changing players tin of breaking down tight defenses — nan domiciled Hirving Lozano played successful 2018 aliases Giovani Dos Santos successful 2014. The deficiency of productivity that showed against Saudi Arabia successful 2022 flared up precocious against England.

Thanks to Jiménez and Quiñones, nan squad did show firepower, scoring 10 goals successful 5 matches, but it lacked extent to break down a well-organized English defense.

The talent excavation has been hindered by nan Mexico nine system.

Mexico’s Julián Quiñones is tossed successful nan aerial by teammates arsenic they observe a Round of 32 World Cup triumph complete Ecuador astatine Azteca Stadium connected June 30.

(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

Liga MX owners support a constrictive position of home soccer, prioritizing overseas signings complete nan improvement of section players and promotion and relegation stay abolished — removing competitory unit that is nan backbone of English leagues.

Top Mexican players proceed to beryllium overvalued by their location clubs, which makes it difficult for European clubs to motion them erstwhile location are cheaper options pinch much awesome résumés.

“This was nan 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 nan Mexican federation and its owners, location isn’t overmuch hope.”

Rafael Márquez, a erstwhile FC Barcelona prima and 1 of nan top players successful Mexican nationalist squad history, is succeeding Aguirre aft serving arsenic 1 of his adjunct coaches. Márquez has formed a adjacent enslaved pinch players, who tossed nan 47-year-old erstwhile defender successful nan aerial aft 1 of their World Cup wins, and is acquainted pinch each nan reasons Mexico continues to deed nan aforesaid World Cup wall.

“Rafa is simply a awesome guy, a awesome coach,” said Aguirre, who noted that nan team’s mean property has dropped and that much and much players are playing successful Europe. “Hopefully he tin do amended than we were capable to.”