Head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino and his misfiring players aren’t the only ones who have watched their neighbours rejoice in their faces, first at the Nations League in June and then in the Gold Cup on Sunday night.
Mexico have experienced bitter disappointment twice this summer
The Mexico national team has had a front-row seat to the celebrations of its top rival twice in just over two months, having now fallen to the U.S. men’s national team in back-to-back tournament finals. But head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino and his misfiring players aren’t the only ones who have watched their neighbours rejoice in their faces, first at the Nations League in June and then in the Gold Cup on Sunday night. El Tri fans and the Mexican Football Federation have done so with furrowed brows as well, and given the intensity of the rivalry with the USMNT in modern times, they won’t be able to put up with much more of it. So, entering World Cup qualifiers this fall, it’s assured that almost everyone not axed from the program in the aftermath of the latest result will be on a short leash.
Lozano uncertain after his gory knee-to-eye collision
Help, it’s important to note, will be on the way. At least two of three vital absent attackers – Diego Lainez, Raul Jimenez and Hirving Lozano – should be available when Mexico returns to action on September 2 against Jamaica, with only Lozano uncertain after his gory knee-to-eye collision. The qualities of those three players cannot be understated, as Mexico’s inability to finish counterattacking chances proved its bugaboo against the USMNT on Sunday. Lainez, 21, is the young sparkplug who gashed the Stars and Stripes as a substitute in the losing Nations League effort and should continue to evolve into a crucial piece of El Tri’s attack. Jimenez, 30, is the exact type of veteran finisher who can expertly convert chances created by the quick-footed Lainez. And Lozano, 26, is the prime star who can do a bit of everything.
They will have little chance to re-acclimate to the squad, however, and they cannot immediately solve the shot confidence of a group that has toiled under Martino in recent times.