Mexico reached the round 16, tied for the longest continuous streak with Brazil, at the seven previous World Cups. El Tri is currently at the bottom, in Qatar, of Group C. They will be facing Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night at Lusail Stadium.
Mexico didn’t progress out of its group at soccer’s biggest tournament the last time it played in 1978.
However, winning is not enough. El Tri needs to get support. They will need Poland and Argentina to beat Lionel Messi at Stadium 974.
Mexico’s best option is to do so. Beyond that, things get complicated. If Mexico wins but Argentina, one tournament favorite, also wins, then the goal difference becomes relevant.
The problem is that Mexico does not have goals for Qatar.
El Tri hasn’t scored in 384 minutes straight at the World Cup. This is since their 2018 tournament in Russia’s second group match.
“We believe that we have the chance. We believe in our chances,” said Andres Guardado of Mexico, a veteran midfielder who will be appearing in his fifth World Cup. “We will keep trying until the end,” said Andres Guardado, a veteran Mexican midfielder.
The drought was extended Saturday by a loss to Argentina of 2-0. No team scored in the Mexico opener against Poland.
Mexico hasn’t been eliminated in the group stage since the Argentina tournament 44 years ago. El Tri failed to qualify for 1982 World Cup Spain and was expelled from 1990 event in Italy due to the use of overage players in a tournament for under-20s.
Mexico has made it to the round 16, but not further, in each of its seven previous appearances. El Tri arrived in Qatar in search of a “quinto partido”, a fifth game, and was the first time the tournament has been hosted by Mexico since 1986.
Henry Martin, Mexico forward, said that there are no more chances in the next match. “We need to score all the goals we can and not worry about the outcome of the other game,” Henry Martin, Mexico forward, said.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino became more critical of Mexico after the team failed to score enough goals. His choices, including the decision to drop Javier “Chicharito”, Hernandez, the all-time leading scorer, had already led to him being questioned.
Hernandez, who plays in Major League Soccer for the LA Galaxy, scored the team’s last goal against South Korea in Russia in a 2-1 group stage win. Carlos Vela from the LAFC, who was also out of favour in the national team’s goal scoring, scored the other.
Martino could look for a new job after Mexico loses to Saudi Arabia. Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the opening match.
Martino stated Tuesday, “Not getting through the hurdles would lead to a lot more frustration.” “We need the goals we win to stay here.
Saudi Arabia could not pull off another upset Saturday as it lost to Poland 2:2.
Herve Renard, Saudi Arabia coach, said that “We will play until the very last second of this tournament” and would not relent.
Nawaf al-Abed was injured in his ankle against Poland. It is not known if he will be available for Mexico.