After a poor World Cup in 2022, Mexico have opted to leave some of their most experienced players behind for the 2024 Copa America and have instead turned to youth under Jaime Lozano. They have one eye on developing talent for the 2026 World Cup on home soil (as well as the U.S. and Canada) but will fans be patient if they suffer teething problems?
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The Manager
Jaime Lozano, 45, has ushered in a much-needed youth movement at the senior national-team level. In doing so, Lozano has swam against the traditional current in Mexico, where veteran-led squads have long been a part of the country’s football culture.
Lozano is in his first permanent lead role with the senior team after previously coaching Mexico’s under-23 squad at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as well as an unsuccessful stint as a Liga MX manager with Necaxa.
His inexperience is what pundits in Mexico have focused on but, following their disastrous campaign at the World Cup in Qatar under Argentine Gerardo Martino, Lozano’s Mexican heritage was a breath of fresh air. That part of Lozano’s background has ended the nationalistic vitriol that Martino was subjected to for three years.
After a brief spell in interim charge, Jaime Lozano was appointed Mexico coach permanently in August 2023 (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
With a Mexican now in charge of the national team, the focus has shifted towards Lozano’s ability to lead a group at a major tournament. The Copa America will be an interesting proving ground for a younger Mexican side and their new leader.
“For me, the most important thing is for each player to understand what it means to wear the Mexican national team shirt, and what’s at stake every time they do so,” Lozano told TheAthletic March. “We have fans everywhere but especially in the U.S., where we play the most. They go through a lot to see their national team play. The least we can do is give everything — put our lives on the line on every play and in every game in order to bring our fans joy.”
The household name you haven’t heard of yet
When Club America goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagon was ruled out of the Copa America, Lozano did not hesitate when calling in a replacement. Santos Laguna goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo, 28, will replace Malagon and earn a second opportunity to represent Mexico in a major tournament.
Acevedo was left off the 2022 World Cup squad in favor of more experienced goalkeepers. He has remained in the fold though and, because Mexico are going younger, Acevedo fits the profile that Lozano is considering.
A lover of 1980s rock music and pop tracks from that era, Acevedo’s rock-star hair, acrobatic saves and humble attitude have made him a fan favorite in Mexico.
He has been a one-club man since becoming a professional and his international career is just beginning. Lozano believes that Acevedo’s recent form with Santos has merited a new chance for the young goalkeeper to help Mexico during a time of major change for the national team.
Goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo has replaced the injured Luis Angel Malagon (Manuel Guadarrama/Getty Images)
Strengths
Last summer, Mexico won a watered-down 2023 Gold Cup tournament in which they scored 12 goals and conceded just twice. Five Mexico players scored two goals apiece during the competition, which pointed towards Lozano’s focus on the collective.
Mexico played direct, were quick on the counter and clinical when it mattered. Ahead of the Copa America, Lozano will hope that Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, Mexico’s next star in the making, will become their main goalscoring threat. Without Fulham’s Raul Jimenez in the squad, Mexico’s No 9 position will lose experience but gain a spark from 23-year-old Gimenez.
While it’s too early in Lozano’s tenure to categorically identify Mexico’s strengths, the midfield is not a bad place to start. West Ham’s Edson Alvarez will take the captain’s armband and lead from the center of the park. Six of Mexico’s midfielders were part of the 2022 World Cup squad, including Dynamo Moscow’s Luis Chavez, who scored a belter of a free kick against Saudi Arabia in Qatar. Chavez is a dangerous set-piece expert, which Mexico will certainly look to take advantage of.
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Weaknesses
One overwhelming opinion that Mexico can’t shake is that the talent level of their national team has dropped severely. In the CONCACAF Nations League final in March, Mexico were defeated soundly by a full-strength U.S. team, marking a third consecutive defeat to the Americans in a final. The 2-0 defeat in Dallas was Lozano’s first taste of real scrutiny and it highlighted the gap between the two countries.
Football is becoming more about strength, speed and an awareness of space and how to attack it. Mexico has fallen behind in those areas by delaying their current generational transformation. The Copa America will test Mexico’s ability to play against better teams in a meaningful tournament. Mexico were drawn in Group B with Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica. It’s viewed as the most even of the four groups. Each match has the makings of a physical, fast-paced battle.
Mexico’s attack has international experience, the midfield is solid and the team’s back line has potential.
The thing you didn’t know
Mexico will not wear their traditional green home kits at the Copa America. Instead, Mexico will don a colorfully-designed burgundy home shirt that has divided the fanbase. The Mexico-flag inspired green shirt, white shorts and red socks has long been the national team’s main kit. However, this isn’t the first time that a Mexico uniform has angered the team’s rabid supporters.
In 2021, Mexico wore a black and pink home kit that was well received by the streetwear crowd but panned by traditionalists, who believe Mexico should always wear green. Mexico and kit maker Adidas have never shied away from experimentation, which has led to big sales and social media buzz every time Mexico releases a new look.
The Rosa Mexicano black and pink shirt became synonymous with Mexico’s decline ahead of the last World Cup. Yet, a green home kit didn’t change Mexico’s luck in Qatar in 2022. It will be interesting to see if Mexico’s new look at the Copa America will inspire or further dishearten its supporters.
Mexico’s Copa America kit boasts a pattern inspired by peacock feathers (Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Expectations back home
Mexico has been an invited nation at the Copa America on 10 occasions. They were runners-up in 1993 and 2001 and semi-finalists in 1997, 1999 and 2007. Mexico has competed well at the Copa America but they’ve also suffered humbling defeats.
They failed to progress from the group stage at the 2011 and 2015 Copa America tournaments. And during the 2016 Copa America Centenario, Chile thrashed Mexico 7-0 in the quarterfinal stage.
This summer, Mexico’s expectations are slightly clouded. By taking a younger team to the tournament and considering their recent form, no one outside of Mexico’s dressing room sees them as a contender. The Mexico Football Federation has said publicly that the tournament will be a showcase for the team’s up-and-coming talents to attract European scouts.
“What’s most important is what we are building towards 2026 and 2030,” Lozano said recently. But while the messaging has changed, the scrutiny will remain in Mexico. Lozano will experiment but if the team underperforms, controversy will follow.
Mexico’s Copa America squad (provisional)
Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), Julio Gonzalez (Pumas UNAM).
Defenders: Israel Reyes (Club America), Jorge Sanchez (Porto), Brian Garcia (Toluca), Cesar Montes (Almeria), Victor Guzman (Monterrey) Alexis Pena (Necaxa), Johan Vasquez (Genoa), Jesus Orozco (Guadalajara), Gerardo Arteaga (Monterrey), Bryan Gonzalez (Pachuca).
Midfielders: Edson Alvarez (West Ham United), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Jordan Carrillo (Santos), Erick Sanchez (Pachuca), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Luis Chavez (Dynamo Moscow), Andres Montano (Mazatlan), Fernando Beltran (Guadalajara), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul).
Forwards: Marcelo Flores (Tigres), Cesar Huerta (Pumas UNAM), Julian Quinones (Club America), Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Martinez (Pumas UNAM), Diego Lainez (Tigres).
(Artwork: John Bradford. Photos: Getty; Michael Janosz/ISI Photos, Thearon W. Henderson)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5518217/2024/06/14/mexico-copa-america-2024-squad-guide/
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Publish date : 2024-06-14 07:04:12
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