Welcome to a new chapter of pretexts, conspiracy theories, and revelations about surreal Mexican soccer.
In recent days, several national soccer players took on the task of reviving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But far from making any self-criticism, they focused on distributing blame and pointing out the villain – according to them – of the historic failure in said tournament: Gerardo Martino.
Statements from players like Hirving Lozano, Andrés Guardado, and Edson Álvarez seem to indicate that the blame for Mexico’s poor performance in the World Cup lies solely on the shoulders of the Argentine coach. Lozano did not address his own underwhelming performance, while Guardado’s selection for the squad was questioned. Alvarez also stirred controversy by suggesting he should have played against Argentina, insinuating that the outcome of the match could have been different.
A new debate has emerged around the Tricolor, with some speculating that Martino deliberately “sold or gave away” the match against Argentina to avoid the team’s elimination from the tournament. However, such conspiracy theories have been dismissed as absurd, with critics pointing out that the coach’s nationality should not be a factor in his commitment to the Mexican team.
These accusations against Martino are just the latest in a long history of blaming coaches for the national team’s failures. However, the root of Mexico’s shortcomings in international competitions may lie in issues such as poor psychological preparation of players and the perpetuation of mediocrity in the local football scene.
Despite the attempts to deflect blame onto Martino, the reality is that the Mexican National Team is still far from the football elite. The team’s failure in Qatar 2022 exposed deep-rooted issues that have yet to be addressed. As the Tricolor continues to navigate its post-World Cup fallout, it remains to be seen whether a change in leadership under Jaime Lozano will bring about positive change.
As Mexico looks ahead to future tournaments, it is clear that more than just a change in coaching staff is needed to propel the national team to success. Only time will tell if the Mexico will be able to overcome its challenges and rise to the top of the football world.