5 world cup moments for Mexico

March 28th, 2006 | by: John |

A trend is spreading across the world cup blog like a nasty rash. Following Brazil blogger Euler’s lead, I have decided to add my 5 Mexican world cup moments in almost 30 years of watching world cups.

5. 1990 — No World Cup for Mexico. Imagine my horror when I woke up one morning back in 1988, and I look at the front page of the sports section of the Dallas Morning News, and it says that Mexico has been disqualified for Italia 1990. The reason was because they used overage players in an under 19 tournament. I was really looking forward to Mexico’s participation because Hugo Sanchez was at the height of his amazing powers and other Mexican players had been playing in Europe. But alas, we have to suffer through Italia 1990. Maybe Mexico was better off not being there. What an awful tournament.

4. 1994 – Luis Garcia helps the Irish count. Mexico lost its first battle in the group of death to the Norwegians, but fought back valiantly with a 2-1 win over Ireland. The best moment for me was when, after a brutal tackle by Terry Phelan on Luis Garcia, Garcia pointed to the scoreboard that it was in fact Garcia that had the brace and not Phelan. Mexico then tied Italy to win the group, only to succumb to the Bulgarians in the first of their customary 2nd round exits.

3. 2002 – Borgetti’s goal vs. Italy. This goal was posted earlier in the week. A stunner, and in my opinion one of the three best headers in WC history (the other 2 are Pele 1970 and Letchkov’s winner over the Germans in 1994). Again Mexico won their group, but were ousted by their neighbors to the north in the knockouts.

2. 1998 – The Supersub. Jesus Arellano’s mind-boggling pace changed Mexico’s fortunes in France, as he helped Mexico come back in every group game. They overcame a one goal deficit vs. Korea to win, and 2 goal deficits to both Belgium and Holland to tie. I can still see his run vs. Germany, but his shot hit the woodwork, and Mexico lost 2-1 to the Germans after being up 1-0 with 12 minutes left to play.

1. 1986 – As hosts, Mexico nearly made it to the semi-finals, but were done in by Germany in penalty kicks in the quarters. They had a goal taken away, they hit the woodwork, and had nothing left for the penalties. But in those 5 games, they played great soccer: Hugo Sanchez scored his only world cup goal. Manuel Negrete would have had the best goal of the tournament, if not for a guy named Maradona. In that Germany game, Harald Schumacher redeemed himself for his vicious knockout of France’s Batiston 4 years earlier in Sevilla by helping Sanchez stretch out his leg cramps in the oppressive Monterrey heat.

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Oscar (Mañana) Man

That brought back memories. I remember in 94 sneaking out of MCI in my lunch break to see Mexico play Italia. i literally cried when Mexico tied Italy and heard the best play by play ever, Andres Cantor saying GOOOOOOOLLLLL and said “Levantate Mexicano” one of my best sporting events I witnessed for the Group of Death……. Cantor screaming “Brodie” after save after save…… I wish I had that tape you have Jagou……
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/the-best-world-cup-memories.html The Best World Cup Memories – FIFA World Cup 2006 – World Cup 2006 Blog

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Luis Carlos

I noly remember 94, 98 and 02. But I have to agree with you that Borguetti’s goal is one of the best in WC history.

Remember how Luis Hernandez (the matador) played in the loss with Germany, he made the goal but then missed a shot in front of Kahn. That was sad. I was sure that was our game.

I also remember García Aspe (Beto) missing a penalty kick that would not only get us out of the tournament, but also start a series of bad luck events on Mexico and PK’s. Before that shot he had never missed a PK in an oficcial tournament before, and had a perfect or nearly perfect % in Penalty kicks in his carreer. That was sad, he is one of the best players Mexico has ever had, with a lot of courage team work effort and leadership.
http://iran.worldcupblog.org/group-d/my-top-5-unforgettable-team-melli-world-cup-moments.html My Top 5 Unforgettable Team Melli World Cup Moments – FIFA World Cup 2006 – Iran World Cup Team Blog

[...] You know, now that everyone is following Euler’s lead, I can not be left out! I did write a list, but it was my Brazil list (I am a big fan of Brazil). But after reading Mexico, Croatia, Portugal, and Paraguay write their own team’s top 5 memories, I can not let Team Melli drag behind! [...]
http://www.lastkick.com/?p=904 LAST KICK » Blog Archive » My Top 5 Unforgettable Team Melli World Cup Moments

[...] You know, now that everyone is following Euler’s lead, I can not be left out! I did write a list, but it was my Brazil list (I am a big fan of Brazil). But after reading Mexico, Croatia, Portugal, and Paraguay write their own team’s top 5 memories, I can not let Team Melli drag behind! [...]
plashch

For me add in Blanco’s sensational goal against Belgium in 1998, as good as Negrete’s in its own way.
arcturus

Anyone have video of Blanco’s goal against Belgium? I have never seen it.
http://mexico.worldcupblog.org John

you can find it on youtube.com. Just type in Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1998 in the search. You may also find it on google video as well.
arcturus

Thanks John.

I still like Negrete’s and Borgetti’s goals better.
http://deleted Big-Baller-Shot-Caller

So many great moments. Blanco’s goal was sensational, for me right above Negrete’s because it showed the world Mexico were for real in France; they weren’t on home soil and it was against European competition. Belgium being close to France, it was hotly contested.

Although not mentioned this particular moment, albeit, not a good memory perplexes soccer experts to this day, and haunts Mexican fans.

-Migel Mejia Baron refused to use a single substitution against Bulgaria in 1994 in a game that was 120 minutes long and went to penalty kicks. Arrogance, stupidity, on-the take, death threats, who knows???

-Hugo Sanchez, Carlos Hermosillo, Missael Espinoza all languished on the bench the entire game.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

-later the Bulgarian coach and Stoichkov said they feared Hugo the most and they had prepared for Hugo and were scared to death of him.