Mexico and the World Cup in numbers (First Part)

Mexico is lucky because they have no real opponent at CONCACAF.

I think we are lucky NOW, but not so much in the past. It is because we were uncontested in CONCACAF, and its poor level of competition that made us the laughing stock in virtually every World Cup not celebrated in Mexico before the ’90s.

Nowadays, because of the influx of quality foreigners, and the chance to participate in Copa America, Libertadores, etc. we actually have a way to get the experience while maintaining a good situation going for the qualifiers.

Still, even CONCACAF has become better with time. Remember that in the Copa America of 2001, every CONCACAF team made it to the second round, and in 2002, none of them were pushovers (2 making it to the second round at least).

The United States finished ahead of Mexico in qualifying so it is hard to say El Tri has no real opponent. But you are right that on a whole CONCACAF is not stacked with great teams.

Posted from  United States

I think people put to much emphasis on history in soccer. I recently read an article by this pompous journalist from Mexico about Mexico’s hegimony in Concacaf blah, blah, look nobody cares anymore, you either win or you don’t, excuses are over with internationally.

Mexico’s problems have been psychological for the most part historically, kind of like teams that believe in curses and say, “it’s happening again”.

Having said that, Mexico lags behind the so called powers in the number of quality players produced at an international level, always have. Up until recently, this problem was never really adressed. Now your seeing better scouting, coaching, more competition and this equals more level results over time.

Good point about Libertadores, this has enabled players and coaches to adjust to different styles of play, climate, hostile environments and more importantly concentrate on how to get a result in a game and that requires high levels of concentration. Hence better focus.

Sometimes you see Chivas play a Libertadores against Boca and they look like the best team in the world, then they play domestically against lower competition and they just coast. Coincidence?

Posted from  United States

René, don’t take Copa America serious. Nobody here in South América does. Neither Brazil nor Argentina sends their main players there. It was always a good chance to try out some young players.

Interesting facts, Luis Carlos.

And yeah, CONCACAF is definitely getting better over time. I don’t think USA or Mexico are going to win this summer, but I also think they are generally underrated by other teams/fans.

Posted from  United States

Wow! What a debate we’re having here. Interesting, I’ll like to put out some thoughts out here!

1. We are not lucky because we’re on CONCACAF, we are UNLUCKY. The only reason why Mexico has taken too much time to prove being a good team is the rivals we play against. Of course the USA is becoming a good team, same as Mexico, both since 94. And besides their are six confederations in the world and only two are strong. Europe and South America. After that CONCACAF is the strongest.

2. YES, we put to much emphasis in history. Of the 7 World Champions, the one that has the least aperances in a world cup is Uruguay and is the 12 place with 10. Big teams come with big names its the hole package.

History is important.

Cheers. Go Mexico! LOL

Posted from  Mexico

Since we are in the process of giving interesting tidbits, we would have to say that leaving Blanco behind can hardly be considered the first “big name” to be left out of a World Cup participation because of issues with the head coach.

In 1970, Juan Dosal, who was at the time one of the best midfielders in Mexico, who had participated in a good chunk of the process before the World Cup, was surprisingly left out by Raul Cardenas because they didn’t see eye to eye. We have to remember that Dosal was instrumental in Toluca winning their first ever championship and kept them in top form throughout the early 70s.

Another case was Alfredo Tena, who was instrumental in the 3 consecutive championships in America in the early ’80s and arguably the best defender in Mexico at the time, was left out by Bora Milutinovich in 1986 because he wouldn’t use the “official” shoes for the national team (ADIDAS), since he had a contract with PUMA.

Another interesting tidbit is the one regarding foreigners in the National team. Everybody seems to remember Caballero 4 years ago, but there have been several others:

Julio Lores (Peru) 1935-1938 (Participated in 2 Central American Games)

Jose Lopez (Spain) 1938 (Participated in 1 Central American Games)

Antonio Bataglia (Argentina) 1952

Alfredo Acosta (Argentina) 50s

Carlos Blanco (Spain) Participated in the 1954 and 1958 World Cups.

Gabriel Caballero (Argentina) Participated in the 2002 World Cup.

and now, Anotnio Naelson (Brazil) and Guillermo Franco (Argentina)

Let us also not forget that Copa America will in all likelihood be hosted by Mexico in 2009. I have always thought it would be fun to have a real Copa America (north, central, and south) with the 10 SA teams and the 6 best CONCACAF teams, stage it every 4 years, and have it start right after the Euro. Why do they get to have all the fun every leap year?

Posted from  United States

Too bad Lavolpe is too blind to notice the great international players playing in Mexico. Zinha and Franco might make a difference but Gaitan, would have been perfect.

I would much rather see Bofo than Franco on the team. Zinha is a mess Lavolpe could have corrected, he is hurt, and even when healthy he is a defensive liability b/c of his size, he picked the smallest Brazilian in history besides Bebeto to play in a World Cup.

Posted from  United States

LOL. Big-Baller, are you saying Mexico should’ve naturalized Gaitan instead of Franco?

I think that the players are the ones that should decide if they become Mexicans or not. Probably I’m still sorounded by national pride and country love ideas, but it’s not up to the coach. I mean sure Sinha and Franco wanted to be in the world cup, but they would’ve become Mexicans anyway.

And yes, Sinha is the smallest brazilian ever, even smaller than Bebeto. LOL

Posted from  Mexico

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Posted from  United States