If empty seats in a stadium are a good measure of a team in crisis, then the Mexican national soccer team is experiencing a significant one.
In Tuesday’s friendly game, Mexico had its lowest attendance ever at AT&T Stadium, with 32,623 fans in the stands to watch El Tri’s 0-0 draw with Canada.
Beginning in 2009, Mexico played 14 games at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, with an average of 67,373 fans per game.
Before Tuesday’s game against Canada, the worst attendance at AT&T Stadium for a Mexico game was on June 10, 2021, against Trinidad & Tobago, when 41,229 fans showed up for a Gold Cup match.
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Expectations for the game against Canada were so low that the game organizers decided not to open the second floor of the stadium.
Thirty minutes before kickoff, the cheapest ticket to see the game at AT&T Stadium was $30 on seatgeek.com. On August 20, the cheapest ticket was $65, according to a report by Al Día.
The last two years have been a nightmare for El Tri, which is mired in one of the biggest crises in recent times.
Related:As comparisons flow, Javier Aguirre urges Mexico to focus on what’s ‘truly important’
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mexico did not advance beyond the group stage, which had not happened since Argentina 1978.
Later, Mexico was embarrassed by the United States in the Concacaf Nations League Final held in March at AT&T Stadium, and this summer, Mexico had its worst performance in Copa America by not advancing beyond the group stage.
In two years, the Mexican national team has had four coaches: Gerardo Martino, Diego Cocca, Jaime Lozano and Javier Aguirre.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Mexican national team played a friendly match against New Zealand on Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, to which 25,000 fans attended.
To put that into perspective, the same teams faced each other at the same venue in 2010. On that occasion, 90,526 fans packed the stadium.
The picture of thousands of empty seats at AT&T reflects the discontent among El Tri fans. Still, Mexican national team defender Alan Mozo said he was surprised by the low attendance.
“I am surprised because the fans have always filled the stadiums where we play. I think it reflects everything that has happened recently,” Mozo said.
Against Canada, the Mexican players showed anxiety and developed a rough style of play that did not help them build a fluid offensive game.
Canada generated the only dangerous play in the first half with a header by Cyle Larin that led to the Mexican goalkeeper, Ángel Malagón, making a great save.
Mexico had its clearest chance to score in the 72nd minute when Roberto Alvarado unleashed a powerful shot inside the box that Canada goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair deflected out for a corner kick.
At the end of the match, Mexican fans in the stadium booed their team loudly.
Related:Mexico begins a new era with an old acquaintance Javier Aguirre at the helm
Aguirre, who coached the Mexican national team on two previous occasions, in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, is aware that his team must start winning some games to regain the affection of its fans.
“To the extent that the fans see their team committed to giving the best of its abilities, people will come back. I have no doubt about it,” Aguirre said.
With more than 20 years of coaching experience in Europe and other countries around the world, Aguirre has established a philosophy for the Mexican national team to regain the appreciation of its fans.
“I cannot conceive of a team led by me that does not run, that does not fight, that does not feel the colors, I cannot conceive of that,” Aguirre said.
“The player who does not understand this philosophy can go home.”
Find more soccer coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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Publish date : 2024-09-10 16:07:00
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