After the euphoria sparked by the 2-0 victory over Ecuador—which ended a four-decade drought—Mexican national team head coach Javier Aguirre opted for restraint. However, he did not hesitate to sound the alarm by describing the upcoming Round of 16 match as “the most important game” in the history of Mexican football.
Next Sunday, July 5, Mexico will face a do-or-die match against the winner of the England-Democratic Republic of the Congo matchup. Aware of what’s at stake, “El Vasco” coolly analyzed the victory over the South Americans, keeping his feet on the ground while an entire country celebrates.
Humility, Struggle, and Tactical Analysis
Far from any triumphalism, the Mexican coach acknowledged that the team showed two different sides on the field. While the first half bordered on tactical perfection—which was reflected in the score—the second half forced El Tri to fall back and suffer.
“A very good first half and a second half in which we knew how to stay humble and chase the ball. The counterattack was a clear opportunity to score one more goal, but you can’t be perfect,” Aguirre admitted in an interview with Televisa after the match.
The coach acknowledged that the counterattack strategy in the second 45 minutes lacked the expected impact, but he praised his players’ defensive effort for keeping a clean sheet and securing qualification.
The bond with the fans and the wear and tear on the star players
The victory has also solidified an unbreakable bond between the team and the Aztec fans, reviving the famous chant of “¿y si sí?” (What if we do?). Although Aguirre stays away from social media, the support in the stands has not gone unnoticed. “I’m not on social media, but judging by the atmosphere, I’m convinced there’s a bond. We’re in this together, and we’re doing well,” he said.
On the other hand, “El Vasco” addressed the biggest controversy of the match: the surprising substitution of young Gilberto Mora, who had been the driving force behind the team’s offensive flow, and the visible exhaustion of goal-scorer Julián Quiñones. True to his forthright style, the coach explained that the substitutions were strictly due to physical reasons.
“It’s a shame he ran out of steam, but he’s just a kid; we can’t ask him for more than he gives,” he explained about Mora. “We don’t have anything to spare, and we ran a lot. Gil was already struggling, just like Julián.”
Now, with tired legs but spirits high, Mexico has a few days to catch its breath before facing the ultimate test this Sunday.
