Team Mexico at the 2022 World Cup: record holders without a trophy

We continue to introduce the national teams that will play in the World Cup in Qatar in Group "C". Next up is the Mexican national team.

Mexico

A long time ago, the territory of what is now the largest state in Central America was inhabited by Indians. The Mayans had the strongest culture, who invented their own hieroglyphs and calendar. They were succeeded by the Aztecs, who created a powerful power here, and in the 16th century they fell under Spanish exploitation.

In 1821 Mexico became independent. Now it is a fundamental state, which relies on the production of oil, gas, ore, growing corn, grain and soybeans. In Russia this country is associated not only with Indians and numerous criminal cartels, of course, with Mexican soap operas, which appeared on the screens in the early 90s.

Mexico is a well-developed sporting nation that hosted the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. It also hosted two FIFA World Cups in 1970 and 1986, and will host a third in 2026, with the Mexicans co-hosting it with the United States and Canada.

Mexico's national soccer team

This is the strongest team in CONCACAF, which unites the countries of North, Central America and the Caribbean, reaching the fourth FIFA ranking in the 1990s-2000s.

Soccer was brought to Mexico by English workers and Spanish immigrants. January 1, 2023 will be a century since the first match in the history of the Mexican national team - then she defeated Guatemala away. And seven years later played in the first World Cup in Uruguay, though the laurels are not won, losing all matches. Since then, the Mexicans have participated in the World Cup seventeen times - a record among the teams that have not won the tournament.

The highest achievement of the Mexicans at the World Cups is reaching the quarterfinals. They managed it twice, and both times at home. In 1970, the Mexican team at the group stage played a draw with the Soviet Union - 0:0, defeated El Salvador - 4:0 and unexpectedly beat Belgium - 1:0, but in the quarterfinals could not do anything with Italy - 1:4. In 1986, the Mexicans won the group stage, beating the Belgians 2-1 and Iraqis 1-0 and sharing points with Paraguay 1-1. In 1/8 finals, strong Bulgaria team was defeated - 2:0, and then the Mexicans selflessly fought with the future finalist, the national team of Germany, and lost only in the penalty shootout - 0:0, penalty shootout. 1:4.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Mexicans made some good noise. Irving Lozano's goal earned them a 1-0 win over Germany at the start of the group stage. Then they beat South Korea 2-1 and then suffered a 3-0 defeat against Sweden. Well, then they were defeated by Brazil in the 1/8 finals - 0:2.

The Mexicans play interesting soccer that combines the technical skill peculiar to Latin Americans and the inherent fighting spirit of the national team.

Mexican national team stars

The Mexican team has slightly more players from the national championship - by the way, very interesting and spectacular - than the ones playing abroad. Well-known to the Russian fans are strikers Irving Lozano from Napoli and Raul Jimenez from Wolverhampton, midfielders Andres Guardado from Betis and Jesus Corona from Sevilla, midfielder Hector Herrera who played for Atletico. The goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is sure to be remembered from the 2018 World Cup.

Group C opponents.

Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Poland.

Forecast on the performance of the Mexican national team

The Mexicans are good enough to finish second in the group after the Argentines and advance to the 1/8 finals. Poland is a slightly less good team, and Saudi Arabia is noticeably weaker.