Mexico Seeks to Overcome Its Confidence Problem
“Confia en Mexico.â€
Basically, it’s an expression of confidence: “Believe in Mexico.†It’s a motto that the country’s national soccer team has worn with pride for years.
Now, however, confidence is eroding, and it couldn’t be happening at a worse time.
Only a month remains before Mexico begins the final round of World Cup 2002 qualifying play with a game against the U.S. on Feb. 28 in Columbus, Ohio.
That means Coach Enrique Meza has very little time in which to solve the problems that have caused his team to lose its last three games, all by shutouts.
The search for answers begins tonight, when Mexico plays Colombia at 8 at the Coliseum. Meza has made it clear that this is not just another warmup, not just another “friendly.â€
“This isn’t going to be a fun trip for us,†he said when the team arrived in Los Angeles on Monday. “We’re going to be serious. We’re not here for a party. We’re here to prepare for World Cup qualifying.â€
If things do not go well--and lately they have been going downhill in a hurry--this conceivably could be Meza’s last game in charge after less than five months at the helm.
Mexico not only has lost three games in a row, it has failed to score in its last four outings. A 2-0 loss to the U.S. was followed by a 0-0 World Cup qualifying tie with Canada in Toronto and then by successive 2-0 defeats by Argentina and, most recently, Bulgaria.
The latest setback, on Jan. 24 in Morelia, Michoacan, saw the Tricolores booed off the field after their first home loss in more than five years.
“I’m not going to say if they [the fans] are right or wrong, but I think they have every right to do that,†Meza said after the match. “We didn’t have a good day. I think we’ve lost a little bit of confidence and we need to work on that more than anything.â€
Meza, who took over after Manuel Lapuente resigned last September, will be seeking his first victory at the Coliseum. The former Toluca coach brought an understrength team to Los Angeles in October and saw it shut out by the U.S.
In December, he brought a somewhat stronger team, only to see Argentina dismantle it.
Those losses stung in a city where the team has its largest fan base outside of Mexico City.
“Mexico comes here with the intention of reinventing itself for the world,†Meza said. “Based on our last two games [in Los Angeles], we have a responsibility to live up to.â€
In contrast to the recent defeats, Meza’s early results were very promising. He began with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador and followed with a 1-0 win over Bolivia. Then came a spectacular success, when Mexico thrashed Trinidad and Tobago, 7-0, at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in a World Cup qualifier.
But that triumph was marred by the serious injury to striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, whose knee ligaments were damaged in a brutal, studs-up tackle by Trinidad and Tobago’s Ansil Elcock. Elcock, who plays for Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, received a three-match ban for the foul.
Blanco has been sidelined since and faces at least another six months of recovery after knee surgery.
Mexico also lost its most talented left-sided player, winger Ramon Ramirez, to injury for an extended period after a car accident. The national team so far has been unable to shake the effects of those twin blows.
Galaxy and Club America star Luis Hernandez is one of a string of experienced and high-quality attacking players, a group that also includes Jose Manuel Abundis, Jared Borguetti, Miguel Zepeda and Jesus Arellano.
But, in the absence of Blanco and Ramirez, no combination has clicked. Meza said the lack of goals does not concern him as much as the lack of scoring chances created.
“This is what these games are for,†he said, “to correct those problems.â€
Goalkeeper Jorge Campos, a former Galaxy player, acknowledged that Mexico has been struggling.
“It’s been difficult,†he said. “We haven’t been doing such a good job lately, but it’s not an easy game. I think the team will be better with more work.
“We need to work on a lot of the little things, but we should be ready for the United States. I think by that time Mexico will be much better.â€
Meza, on the surface at least, remains unperturbed.
“I have confidence in the players,†he said. “There is still time to get to where we need to, to continue to build this team. Mexico is going to qualify for the World Cup and it’s going to qualify well.â€
For Colombia, meanwhile, this evening’s game is merely a stopover on the way to Miami, where it plays the U.S. at the Orange Bowl on Saturday.
That 1 p.m. (PST) match, to be televised live by ESPN2 and Telemundo, will be the Americans’ final tuneup for the already sold-out Feb. 28 showdown with Mexico.
Times staff writers Jim Barrero and Paul Gutierrez contributed to this story.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
Tonight’s Game
* Who: Mexico vs. Colombia
* When: 8.
* Where: Coliseum
* Notable: Mexico has lost its last three international games as it prepares for its Feb. 28 World Cup qualifier against the U.S. at Columbus, Ohio. Colombia will face the U.S. in a friendly on Saturday in Miami.
