The Mexican national football team finds itself at a pivotal moment, following another early exit from a major tournament. The team bowed out at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, continuing a trend of underwhelming performances.
Mexico's struggles did not stop there. Over the past year and a half, they have seen lackluster results in the Concacaf Nations League. However, a glimmer of hope arrived when Jaime Lozano, initially brought in as an interim coach, secured his position permanently after leading Mexico to victory in the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Copa America Shortcomings
Mexico's recent journey in the Copa America encapsulates the team's broader challenges. Needing a victory against Ecuador to advance to the quarterfinals, Mexico dominated possession, holding nearly 60% of the ball and launching a barrage of 19 shots to Ecuador’s 9. However, they struggled to convert these opportunities into goals. In a striking stat, Mexico took 13 shots before registering their first on-target effort in the 65th minute.
Despite their dominance in possession and attempts, Mexico's offensive efficiency was sorely lacking. They generated only 0.86 expected goals (xG) against Ecuador and managed to score just one goal across their three Copa America matches, despite an overall xG tally of 4.71. On the defensive side, Mexico was relatively solid, conceding just one goal through the group stage.
Offensive Prowess in Limbo
The attacking void becomes glaring when assessing the squad's current composition. No player boasts more than 13 international goals. This lack of a prolific goal scorer has been a significant factor in Mexico's recent struggles on the big stage.
One player who exemplifies this contrast is Santiago Gimenez. The forward enjoyed a stellar season with Feyenoord, netting 26 goals and providing eight assists in European competitions. However, this form has not translated to the international stage, where he has managed just four goals in 30 appearances for Mexico.
The Road Ahead
As Mexico prepares to host the World Cup in two years, fan expectations are sky-high, and the scrutiny on the national team is intensifying. The Mexican football community is keenly aware that time is of the essence to rectify the systemic issues plaguing the squad.
Leadership from Jaime Lozano will be critical. Having demonstrated his capability in the Gold Cup, Lozano must now translate that success to other competitions and instill a sense of belief and tactical rigor within the team. Future fixtures will be crucial for the Mexican national team to refine their strategy and, most importantly, find solutions to their offensive woes.
The coming years will test Mexico’s resilience and adaptability. The team has shown flashes of potential but must now find consistency and clinical finishing in crucial moments. With the world’s eyes set to turn to Mexico in 2026, the national team faces a mandate to finally break through its barriers and deliver a performance worthy of its passionate supporters.