MEXICAN MISFORTUNES

             Where does your mind instinctively rush to when you think of the Fifa World Cup? That Carlos Alberto goal to cap off a 4-1 win over Italy in the 1970 final? Diego Maradona’s Hand of God past Peter Shilton in the 1986 quarter final? Perhaps more recently Siphiwe Tshabalala’s audacious long range effort for South Africa to open the scoring in 2010 at the first ever African World Cup? If it does happen to be any of the above they all share one common factor. Mexico.

 

            The Estadio Azteca, home to Club America and the Mexican national side hosted those iconic World Cup ties in 1970 and 1986 while El Tri as they are nicknamed (in reference to the Mexican flag’s three colours) were South Africa’s opponents for the opening game of the 2010 tournament when Tshabalala sent all of Africa into raptures. 

 

            It seems as though every generation has their own range of World Cup memories that have lived with them forever. Those of the millennial or gen-z era have little to no recollection of Scotland at the competition for example. As for anyone from the Republic of Ireland prior to Italia 90’ you’re country had never been at the finals to offer up such a nerve racking, soul crushing, but overall exhilarating experience as only a World Cup does. But ask anybody of any age to reminisce of a World Cup and chances are they caught a glimpse of a Mexican side. And I mean a glimpse. 

 

            Mexico are near ever-presents at the Fifa World Cup but El Tri have never taken the tournament by storm. Only four countries have appeared at more tournaments than Mexico (16 prior to Qatar’s kick off) but not once have the CONCACAF nation caused any stir at the finals. Such as England did at Italia 90’, Ghana in 2010 or Colombia in 2014. They’re always there, but subtly so. 

 

            When you dig into their tournament statistics that’s when their record becomes incredibly damning. While only four nations have appeared more often at the World Cup, 13 countries have more wins than Mexico’s 16, with the Mexicans leading the tournament in defeats with 27. Their goal difference (-38) is another unwanted tournament record (60 for and 98 against). Perhaps the most discouraging statistic of all, however, is that of the 17 countries to reach 10 or more World Cups it’s only the Mexicans, and Switzerland, who have failed to progress beyond the quarter final stage or further. Although even the Swiss, who have also only reached the final eight, can pride themselves in doing so once more than Mexico having played in five less competitions. 

 

            Mexico’s best tournaments, perhaps unsurprisingly, are the 1970 and 1986 editions, both held on home soil. To thrust even more shade the way of Mexican football supporters their best record mirrors that of fellow CONCACAF nation Cuba (who made the quarters in 1938) and unbelievably the secretive Asian nation of North Korea (whom reached the final eight in England in 1966). 

            

            Over the 21 World Cups played out so far there have been just eight winners. Mexico have featured in more tournaments than former world champions Uruguay, France, England and Spain. They’re always there, as they will be in Qatar later this month and in 2026 when they co-host the tournament with Canada and the United States, in doing so they’ll become the first country to host or co-host three tournaments. 

 

            Mexico are one of the main characters in the story of the World Cup. Aside from playing host to Diego Maradona and Pele success stories they’ve helped write the history of the most coveted prize in the largest sporting event on the planet. Mexico played in the first ever World Cup fixture in 1930, simultaneously with another group game, losing 4-1 to France and therefore conceding the tournament’s first ever goal. El Tri then scored the competitions first ever penalty and conceded the first own goal. Fast forward 64 years and they found themselves inked into the tournament’s history again as they finished top of the tightest World Cup group ever. Officially. Group E of the 1994 World Cup in the United States saw each team finish on the same number of points. To date this remains the only time this has ever happened. One win, one draw and one loss for all four sides saw each finish on four points but even more bizarrely all four ended with the same goal difference, zero. Mexico topped the group ahead of future finalists Italy, Republic of Ireland and Norway on ‘goals for’ with three. 

 

Four years prior Mexico’s role in the folklore of the World Cup turned to antagonist as they became just the fourth country, at that time, to be banned from the tournament by Fifa. A scandal later dubbed the ‘Cachirules Scandal’ saw Mexico field four overage players at the 1988 CONCACAF Under-20 tournament, a qualification tournament for the 1989 Fifa World Youth Championship. Fifa handed Mexico a significant punishment by banning footballing operations, across all ages and platforms, for two years from 1^st July 1988 to 1^st July 1990. The scandal is long forgotten about and is even viewed as the turning point for the fortunes of the Mexican game as they’ve reached every knockout stage since the controversy. 

 

            If Mexico feel like a familiar sight it’s likely down to the fact that they’ve met nine future finalists at tournaments, the most fixtures against future winners or runners up for a side yet to hoist the trophy themselves. And as far as familiar faces go two of the three individuals with a record five World Cup tournament appearances hail from Mexico. Germany’s former Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthaus holds the record for most World Cup appearances with 25 but shares the accolade of most tournaments with Mexican duo Antonio Carbajal (aptly nicknamed ‘El Cinco Copas’ in reference to his five finals appearances) and Rafael Marquez, the only player to captain his country in five tournaments.  

 

            This is still a country which has produced some exceptional talent. Rafa Marquez excelled in a frightening Barcelona side during the late 00s which included Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. Marquez was a near permanent fixture in the 2005/06 Barca squad and started in their 2-1 Champions League final success over Arsenal, becoming the first Mexican to lift European football’s premier prize. Three years later he’d pick up another Champions League winners medal. Cuauhtemoc Blanco is another legend of Mexican football. One of the most technically gifted North American players of his generation, creator of the ‘Cuauhtemina’ also known as the ‘bunny hop’, well worth a YouTube search, Blanco scored 71 of 73 career penalties for a success rate of 97.26%. Andres Guardado, current national team captain, and Claudio Suarez share the title as most capped Mexican player and fifth highest male internationalist with 177 appearances. But generally regarded as the face of Mexican football is Hugo Sanchez who was a part of the side that clinched a quarter final berth in 1986 and came within a few penalty kicks of a semi final place, to date Mexico’s greatest position in a World Cup. Sanchez bagged a goal every other game with Atletico Madrid before crossing the city to sign for rivals Real Madrid where he netted over 160 goals in a little over 200 matches. 

 

            In recent years Guillermo Ochoa has been that guy for his country with heroics at the last two World Cups keeping Mexican spirits high. In the 2014 group stages Ochoa picked up a Man of the Match award against Brazil for his clean sheet and outrageous display to keep Neymar and co at bay. In the round of 16 he was deemed Man of the Match again for his display in the agonising loss to the Netherlands. Mexican supporters still hold a vendetta against Arjen Robben for his theatrics which earned the Dutch a late penalty. 

 

            It’s frustrating for Mexico and their supporters. Widely regarded as the superior nation in their respected confederation, they’ve lifted a record eight CONCACAF Gold Cups (North America’s equivalent to the Euros), and have qualified for as many World Cups as fellow CONCACAF countries Costa Rica, Honduras, Canada, El Salvador, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Panama combined. Mexico’s dominance amongst North and Central American sides prior to David Beckham’s heavy influence on domestic ‘soccer’ in the MLS saw them regularly invited to participate in South America’s far more competitive continental tournament, the Copa America. Twice El Tri finished runners-up in the Copa America, the only non South American side to do so, in 1993 then again in 2001. In fact in a complete contrast to their World Cup fortunes (albeit on a far smaller scale) Mexico have only failed to advance beyond the group stage in two of their 10 South American excursions, in 2011 then again in 2015, a fairly successful contribution from CONEMBOL (South America’s governing body) outsiders.

 

            Mexico are a perennial ‘what if?’ side. What if the early 00s squad, Pardo, Blanco, Marquez etc, and the recent crop of talent, Lozano, Ochoa, Jimenez, Chicharito etc, had coexisted? Every World Cup, at least in my lifetime, a key Mexican squad member has earned themselves that big post tournament move. As we see every four years at the World Cup a standout star from a relatively unknown nation catches the eye of a European side prompting a move away. Mexico’s 00s and 10s generation have been no exemption to this frequent World Cup trend. 

 

2002 – Gerardo Torrado moves from Poli Ejido to Sevilla for €60,000

2006 – Carlos Salcido moves from Guadalajara to PSV for €2.25million

            Pavel Pardo moves from Club America to Stuttgart for €1million 

2010 – Carlos Salcido moves from PSV to Fulham for €1.95million

            Efrain Juarez moves from UNAM to Celtic for €2.50million

2014 – Guillermo Ochoa moves from Ajaccio to Malaga for Free Transfer

            Raul Jimenez moves from Club America to Atletico Madrid for €10.50million

2018 – Erick Gutierrez moves from Pachuca to PSV for €6million

            Miguel Layun moves from Porto to Villarreal for €4million

 

            They’ve had talent, since their exemption from Italia 90 they always have, but never in abundance. Us Scots like to summarise our footballing shortcomings as ‘glorious failure’ as we give qualification a valiant effort, play the top teams close, before falling to the minnows of the group. But an argument can be made for Mexico to lay claim to this title. To have drabs of world class players year after year, qualify regularly, but stumble at the last 16 constantly. 

 

            This year is tipped to be business as usual for Mexico with familiar foes Argentina expected to top their group C. Robert Lewandowski’s Poland will prove the biggest threat to Mexico for that second place if Messi and co do steamroll through the group as anticipated. 

 

            And like in years gone by there’s not a great deal of optimism that El Tri can stun the world. At 10/11 for Poland and Mexico it’s quite literally neck and neck between the two nations to advance beyond group C according to bookmakers. At 150/1 to win it all the bookies see Senegal (125/1), Switzerland (100/1) or Serbia (80/1) a more likely champion. Like previous tournaments there are a few Mexican stars being touted for a big money move after they exit the first Middle Eastern World Cup. Guadalajara forward Alexis Vega could be set for a move across the Atlantic if he can impress at his first World Cup having bagged a couple of goals against Jamaica in qualifying. Yet Edson Alvarez may be the most likely Mexican to prove his value at the tournament. The versatile Ajax man can play in the holding midfield role or fill in at centre half and already has some major scouts talking thanks to some impressive displays at club level.  

 

In 2002 Turkey were a massive 100/1 to win the title, and while of course they never, they were one of the tournament’s surprise packages as they reached the semi finals where they lost to eventual winners Brazil courtesy of a single Ronaldo goal. Similarly Uruguay headed into South Africa 2010 at 150/1 to win their third World Cup. Again, they failed to do so, but like Turkey eight years earlier they too reached an unprecedented semi final, losing to the Netherlands, partly thanks to a Giovanni Van Bronckhorst screamer.

 

Scores of fans would line the streets of Mexico City in a heroes welcome if Martino’s men could emulate the Turkish or Uruguayan tales of past tournaments. However if they do happen to clinch 2^nd in the group it would arrange a date with group D winners, expected to be current holders France. Euro 2020 semi finalists Denmark may well spring a surprise and pip France to group D, which judging by the FIFA rankings (Denmark 10 and France 4) could prove more manageable. Should they fend off the Danes it’s expected to be England in the tournament bracket’s quarter final match 59 followed by favourites Brazil in semi final match 62. 17^th time lucky, former Barcelona and Argentina manager Gerardo Martino could etch his name into Mexican folklore if he were even to echo the legends of 1970 and 1986. 

 

A World Cup in Qatar already feels like an anomalous scenario. A World Cup in winter more so. But a World Cup without Mexico just wouldn’t feel like a World Cup at all. Whatever the outcome over the next month or so, Mexico will always be engraved into the tournament’s history.