Mexico

Team Overview

Mexico National Football Team or El Tri or Tricolor (Tri-color) has participated in thirteen FIFA World Cups but has never been able pass the second round. Mexico’s best participation was reaching the Quarterfinals in both in 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups both hosted in Mexican soil. El Tri’s international break through came in the 1993 when invited to the Copa America hosted in Ecuador. The Mexican squad managed under Miguel Mejia Baron made it all the way to the final match, but lost 2-1 to Argentina.

History

Early Years

Mexico played its first official match was in December 9, 1923 against Guatemala. El Tricolor won the match 2-1 with goals of Guadarrama and Adeotado. The Mexican side participated in their first FIFA World Cup in 1930 but did not win any of the matches. El Tricolor lost the inauguration match against France 1-4 that made Mexico the fist team to lose a game in a FIFA World Cup and also to receive a goal. El Tri also lost their next two matches against Chile 3-0 and Argentina 6-3.

Mexico’s first failure in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier came in 1934 when they were defeated by the United States 2-4 in Italy. Mexico also did not attend the 1938 FIFA World Cup held in France but by administrative decisions. The Mexican Football Federation (FEMEXFUT) came to the decision not to play the necessary qualifying match against Cuba.

Back to the World Scene

Mexico returned to back to the world scene at the 1950 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. But El Tri’s unlucky streak continued as they were humiliated again by losing the first three games of the preliminary round; Mexico lost 0-4 to Brazil, 1-4 to Yugoslavia, and 1-2 to Switzerland.

It was until 1958 in Sweden that Mexico was able to obtain their first point in a World Cup. El tri lost the first game 0-3 against the host country but the tie came in the second game against Wales. The match against Wales ended 1-1 which was considered a success considering that Mexico had lost nine consecutive World Cup games.

Mexico had to wait until 1962 to win their first match in a FIFA World Cup in Chile. Mexico lost the first two matches against Spain and Brazil but beat Czechoslovakia in the third games with goals of Diaz in the 12th minute, Del Aguila in the 29th, and Hector Hernandez in the 90th.

Two Time Host

Mexico has been one of the lucky countries who have hosted the FIFA World Cup in two separate occasions once in 1970 and the other in 1986. Mexico inaugurated the 1970 World Cup with a scoreless tie against the Soviet Union. In the second match El Tri defeated El Salvador 4-1, and in the third game Mexico also defeated Belgium 1-0 with a goal. It was the first time Mexico had passed to the next round in a World Cup. The entire nation was paralyzed and thought that Mexico was able to win the tournament, but El Tri lost to Italy 4-1 in La Bombonera of Toluca in the quarterfinals in spite of starting the game winning with a goal of Jose Luis Gonzalez.

Mexico hosted another World Cup sixteen years later in 1986 but now led by Serbian coach Bora Milutinovik. El Tri won the first game against Belguim 2-1 with goals of Hugo Sanchez and Fernando Quirarte. In the second match Mexico tied 1-1 with Paraguay, and in the third game El Tri defeated Iran 1-0 with another goal of Quirarte to allow Mexico to move to the next round. Mexico defeated Bulgaria easily 2-0 but in the quarterfinals lost in penalties to Germany 0-0 (4-1) in Monterrey.

Dark Era

In 1988 Mexico was disqualified by the FIFA to attend the 1990 World Cup in Italy after Mexican journalists investigated and found out that during the Olympic qualifiers to Saudi Arabia, Mexico had enrolled three players that surpass the age limit established by FIFA.

In June 30th 1988 FIFA announced that Mexican football will be excluded for two years from participating in any international competition.

International Success

The Copa America of 1993 held in Ecuador was a major turning point in Mexican football. Coach Miguel Mejia Baron led El Tri to the final match of the competition but lost 2-1 against Argentina.

A week after the 1993 Copa America, Mexico hosted the Gold Cup and successfully defeated the United States 4-1 to win the championship.

For the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico was put in the “group of death” along with Norway, Italy, and Ireland. Mexico went through the next stage successfully but lost to Bulgaria in penalties.

In 199 Mexico won the FIFA Confederations Cup making it the first FIFA tournament under El Tri’s belt. The Tricolores defeated a Brazilian side led by Ronaldinho 4-3 with two goals of Miguel Zepeda, one goal of Jose Manuel Abundis, and one goal from star Chuauhtemoc Blanco.

Golden Generation

In 2005 El Tri won the U-17 FIFA World Cup held in Peru making it the first world championship in Mexican football history. El Tri’s big 3-0 upset against tournament favorite Brazil left Mexico paralyzed. El Tricolor led by Jesus Martinez along with rising stars Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos surprised the world of football. Vela who was the World Cups top scorer with five goals was immediately bought by powerful Arsenal and Barcelona star Giovani was moved to the first team.

World Cup 2006

Under Ricardo La Volpe’s management El Tri went to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany with high hopes of making it pass the quarterfinals. Mexico had difficulties in the group stage but was able to qualify for the second round. There El Tri met against Argentina in an intense match that was prolonged to extra time, but a spectacular goal by Maxi Rodriguez from outside the box eliminated Mexico.

Hugo Sanchez

Football legend Hugo Sanchez was hired at the end of 2006 to lead the Mexican squad to the FIFA World Cup 2010. Sanchez failed to win the Gold Cup against the United States which also meant that El Tricolor did not qualify for the 2010 FIFA Confederations Cup that will be hosted by South Africa.

Mexico had a good performance in the 2007 Copa America obtaining third place after beating Uruguay 3-1.

But what is now being considered as one of the darkest chapters of Mexican Football history, Sanchez was not able to qualify the “golden generation” to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Stars of the Current Squad

Andres Guardado

• Date of Birth: September 28, 1986
• Position: Left Winger
• Height: 169cm

Guardado is considered one of Mexico’s best young players, his potent kicks, speed, agility, and technique has captured the imagination of many fans in Mexico and in Spain. Guardado is the star of his current club Deportivo la Coruna and has demonstrated his quality by scoring five goals in La Liga so far.

Rafael Marquez

• Date of Birth: February 13, 1979
• Position: Centre Back
• Height: 180cm
• Marquez is the icon and captain of the Mexican National Team. The “Kaiser of Michoacan” is considered to be one of the best defenders in the world and a fundamental piece in the success that Barcelona has had in the past years. Rafa has also been the only Mexican player to win the UEFA’s Champions League.

Pavel Pardo

• Date of Birth: July 26, 1976
• Position: Defensive Midfielder
• Height: 179cm
• Pardo is the heart of the Mexican midfield. “El Bebe Pardo’s” ability to recuperate the ball in the midfield and deliver deadly passes to the forwards has the German press consider Pavel one of the best players in the Bundesliga. Pardo also helped Stuttgart win the national championship last year.

Team Legends

Antonio “La Tota” Carbajal

• Date of Birth: July 6, 1929
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Caps: 48
• Goals: 0

Hugo Sanchez

• Date of Birth: July 25, 1958
• Position: Striker
• Caps: 60
• Goals: 29

Fernando Quirarte

• Date of Birth: May 17, 1956
• Position: Striker
• Caps: 45
• Goals: 8

Enrique Borja

• Date of Birth: December 30, 1930
• Position: Striker
• Caps: ?
• Goals: ?

Marcelino Bernal

• Date of Birth: May 27, 1962
• Position: Midfielder
• Caps: 65
• Goals: 5

Jorge Campos

• Date of Birth: October 15, 1966
• Position: Goalkeeper, Striker
• Caps: 130
• Goals: 0

Claudio Suarez

• Date of Birth: December 17, 1968
• Position: Centre Back
• Caps: 178
• Goals: 6

Most International Matches Played

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Player Recognition & Awards

Team Honours

CONCACAF Gold Cup

• Seven time champion: 1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003

FIFA Confederations Cup

• One time champion: 1999; One third place: 1995

Copa America

• Twice runner up: 1993, 2003
• Three times third place: 1997, 1999, 2007

Management

Head Coach: Hugo Sanchez

Hugo Sanchez was named head coach of the Mexican National side after the 2006 World Cup. Sanchez has been a commercial success for El Tri selling out every friendly game played in the United States. Recently he has been criticized by the Mexican media for not winning the Gold Cup against the United States and not qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Uniforms

Home: green shirt with red trim, white shorts

Away: white shirt with red trim, green shorts

Important Links

• http://www.femexfut.org.mx
• http://www.esmas.com/seleccionmexicana/historia/

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_national_football_team
• http://www.esmas.com/seleccionmexicana/historia/
• http://www.femexfut.org.mx