Edson Álvarez and Luis Chávez shed tears in front of the television cameras after Mexico’s first World Cup preliminary round elimination since 1978, coach Gerardo Martino declared himself to be solely to blame a little later. “I take all responsibility for this failure,” said the visibly disappointed Martino. Álvarez struggled for an explanation right after the 2-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, which was not enough to progress. “It’s a hard blow, there are no words for it,” said the midfielder. Only one goal would have been missing for a place in the round of 16. There Poland is now despite a 0:2 against Argentina.
Hervé Renard, on the other hand, smiled as he thought back to one last moment in the dressing room. “I congratulated them on this World Cup,” said the national coach of Saudi Arabia after his team’s World Cup elimination when asked what he said to his players after the final whistle.
“We did our best,” said the 54-year-old Frenchman in the media room of the Lusail final stadium. “But we didn’t deserve to win this game today.” That was enough of a speech after the 2-1 loss to Mexico, which both teams didn’t get into the round of 16.
Renard: “I’m proud”
However, the coach emphasized: “We must not forget what we have achieved together. I’m proud.” After beating clearly favored Argentina 2-1 at the start of the World Cup, the Saudis could have caused a sensation in the dramatic final of Group C – but Renard’s team should have won for that. Saudi Arabia last reached the round of 16 in 1994.
Meanwhile, the processing of the Mexican World Cup debacle has to take place without coach Martino, who announced his departure. “I am the main person responsible for this frustration and disappointment. That makes me very sad,” said the 60-year-old, whose contract is expiring. “We’ll see how it goes and who has to leave the team,” said Chávez. At least Guillermo Ochoa and Andres Guardado, who played their fifth World Cup in Qatar, should no longer be there in the future. “We leave sad but proud,” Ochoa said.
Martino was recently heavily criticized in Mexico, and the early World Cup knockout was now primarily blamed on him. “He left no legacy. He couldn’t deal with the Mexico package,” said the Azteca Deportes TV channel after the Argentine’s three-year tenure. His greatest achievement was winning the 2019 Gold Cup. “We didn’t really understand what he wanted us to do against Argentina,” Chávez said.
Bruised Mexicans: won but lost
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Image: dpa
In the past seven World Cup tournaments, Mexico had always been eliminated in the round of 16, now it was not even enough for that. “Of course we know that this shouldn’t happen,” Chávez said. “We were aiming for the fifth game, now we haven’t even made it to the fourth game.” Above all, the poor performance in the first two games, when 0-0 against Poland and 0-2 against Argentina Once a goal was scored, the team ended up losing progress. “We haven’t done enough,” complained Chávez.
However, El Tri should not have the worst prerequisites for rebuilding after the big disappointment. In Qatar, the Latin Americans competed with a young team made up of numerous bronze winners from the 2021 Olympic Games. “There is revenge in football and we will see what happens in four years,” Chávez announced.
“All that’s left for today is to wish the teams in the round of 16 the best and hope to play another World Cup,” said Renard, whose contract in Saudi Arabia runs until 2027. After the elimination of hosts Qatar and Iran, no nation from the Arab region played in the knockout stages.
“The World Cup level is very high, we had three very, very good teams,” said Renard, whose selection had previously lost 2-0 to Poland. “It was difficult to reach the next round.” Before the group final, his selection “dreamed of” being able to continue after that. “But we didn’t deserve to qualify for the round of 16 with this game,” summed up the Frenchman.