Mexico, toothless and predictable, slumps out of Copa América after Ecuador stalemate, late drama

Mexico did not fairly crash out of the 2024 Copa América; it slumped, step by step, impotently, to an early exit.

It drew Ecuador 0-0 on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, failing to attain for a second consecutive recreation — and dropping the prospect to grab a dramatic stoppage-time winner after VAR overturned a penalty.

The draw doomed Mexico to 3rd place in Group B, behind Ecuador and Venezuela. And it kick-started a protracted summer season of questions on this era of Mexican gamers, in regards to the system that produced them, and about whether or not head coach Jaime Lozano is the best man to guide them towards the 2026 World Cup.

On Sunday, they opened with vitality and depth, with the need of prideful gamers determined to raise their soccer-obsessed nation — however incapable of doing so.

They hurtled into tackles and plunged into 50-50 duels. They sometimes gained the ball excessive up the sector, and energized a roaring crowd in Arizona — however even once they did, they hardly created any clear-cut possibilities.

At any time when they ventured into the ultimate third, they conjured zero creativity.

At any time when they formulated a intelligent cross of their brains, no teammate moved off the ball to deliver that cross to life.

At any time when they wound as much as shoot, or leapt for a header, they fired pictures excessive or broad. None of their 10 first-half makes an attempt ended up on the right track.

Each toothless incursion recalled the phrases of U.S. defender Tim Ream in March.

“We knew they had been predictable. It is essentially the most direct Mexico staff that there is been,” Ream stated after beating Mexico 2-0. “We knew precisely what was coming, and we knew precisely the best way to make the sport ours.”

Ecuador, absolutely, did too.

The Ecuadorians additionally knew they wanted solely a draw. Their objectives in opposition to Venezuela and Jamaica in earlier video games gave them a bonus on aim differential. So that they knew they may advance to a quarterfinal in opposition to Argentina with out scoring once more. The onus was on Mexico to discover a aim, disrupt Group B’s desk, and sneak into second place.

And El Tri couldn’t.

They howled for penalties, however by no means received one.

Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez bustled into the field, however didn’t appear like the fearsome striker he’s been within the Netherlands.

Luis Romo lastly fired Mexico’s first shot on the right track after 64 minutes, nevertheless it was proper down the throat of Ecuadorian keeper Alexander Domínguez.

Julián Quiñones examined Dominguez a minute later; and Giménez pounced on the rebound, however hit the put up. They merely couldn’t rating.

So that they had been the primary high seed to perish on the 2024 Copa América.

Their seed, although, was misleading. They had been, on paper, the second-best staff in CONCACAF, however they’re within the midst of a long-overdue rebuild. Lozano, apparently with extra job safety than some predecessors, omitted a number of mainstays, together with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Raúl Jiménez, from his 26-man roster for the match. The thought was to interrupt in unheralded home stars who’d been blocked on depth charts by nationwide staff veterans, however who may probably contribute come 2026.

“We’re two years away from our World Cup,” Duilio Davino, Mexico’s sporting director, stated after the squad was introduced. “[As co-hosts,] we’ve our spot secured, and we wish to make the most of this nice alternative to not take into consideration the immediacy of the outcome and mission our path to 2026.”

Lozano, talking on the similar information convention in Mexico Metropolis, agreed: “What’s most essential is what we’re constructing in direction of 2026 and 2030. If we give attention to outcomes, we’ll find yourself precisely the place we virtually all the time do.”

So that they conceded, implicitly, that they most likely wouldn’t win this Copa América.

However followers nonetheless anticipated greater than this, multiple aim in 270 minutes, greater than a group-stage exit that supplied little-to-no proof of progress.

As an alternative, it supplied a reminder that the rebuild has been pressured, that the generational transition has been something however natural. It hasn’t been accelerated by a promising wave of children. It has been dictated from above by officers seeking new blood, whether or not that new blood will ever be sturdy sufficient to tug Mexico again to the place it believes it belongs, in or around the globe’s high 10 worldwide soccer groups.

The caveat right here at Copa América, and maybe the handy excuse for failure, is that El Tri’s captain and most completed participant, Edson Álvarez, limped out of the match 27 minutes into Mexico’s opener.

However the finish outcome was unequivocal.

Venezuela, which has by no means certified for a World Cup, topped the group with 9 factors, and can face Canada in a single quarterfinal Friday in Arlington, Texas.

Ecuador will get Argentina in one other Thursday in Houston.

Mexico will not play one other aggressive recreation till November.