I want to share a text I got from Xavi the morning after Mexico’s loss because it made my day.
Sorry Mikey, I know how much El Tri means to you. Hopefully Mexico can learn from this one. Mediocrity is not the expectation of the fans, nor do they deserve it.
Friends… what’s life without them.
Unfortunately, what it was for Mexico was a shock. A wake-up call, for sure. But it shouldn’t have been surprising. I’d have fired Tata Martino after he lost the first of two finals to the US in one month last year. But the FMF, for once, showed restraint in not giving in to criticism. So, the poor results continued. A poor qualifying campaign. And a poor World Cup. Sadly, I feel that Mexico was largely held back by its coaching and player selection. Tata did not call Santi Giménez or Chicharito Hernandez, declaring that Raúl was good to go, only to bring him on as a substitute in every match. Tata did not call Erick Sánchez or Diego Lainez, two players I felt should have been. And worse, Tata’s tactical approach in both the Poland match and especially the Argentina match were far too conservative. Ultimately, Mexico didn’t capitalize on their chances and by the third match, it was too little too late, bravely as they fought in the last match. There are a million IFs now. But I hope that the FMF learns from its mistakes because we cannot repeat this result in four years.
I’m proud of the players. I always am. My eyes well up for every big match anthem as I imagine myself and my spirit with the players on the field. And as I saw tears in some of their eyes throughout the game’s anthems, I felt that heart to heart connection. Luis Chávez’s goal will soar in my heart for years. I screamed so hard and so loud, my dog was jumping with me. Moments like that that I cherish and remember fondly as the years pass.
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