After almost three years of relationship, the romance between Gerardo Martino and the Mexican National Football Team already has some symptoms of wear.
nothing tomb or of a concern such as to think of a ‘breakage‘With the coach; however, the constant ringing of attention in recent months due to the poor performance of the team forces us to make a stop on the way, appeal to the self-criticism, And soon resumed the course.
of January 2019 when the ‘Tata’ was presented as national coach, to date, the reality is that the Tricolor has not faced major challenges, so its transit was free of shocks, beyond that reviewed courtesy of Argentina to a friendly, in which Lautaro Martinez flew with the Mexican defense.
Winning the Gold Cup, more than a star on the forehead, means fulfilling an order that is not big requirement. And Martino won the first, but lost the second, and against a U.S. B team full of MLS kids. To make matters worse he also fell in the Nations League Final against the same ‘northern neighbors’.
If anything had characterized the Tri technician until before the aforementioned trips and he lost his compass, it was the congruence and the self-criticism.
Contrary to the tangled and verbose speeches of his predecessor, Joan Carles Osorio, Martino used to be clear, measured and above all, realistic in terms of the actions of the Selection.
The pressure, the constant demand or only he will know, have caused that today the ‘Tata’ does not live its moments more sweets at the front of the Mexican ensemble. And to some extent it’s normal, as the romance wasn’t going to be eternal and when some bad streak or negative results came up, the cascading criticism would come.
No news for a technician who, during his long pilgrimage, has directed nothing more and nothing less than Barcelona ia la Argentina selection.
Faced with the panorama experienced by the Tri, leader of the Octagonal course for the 2022 World Cup, the sum of points (six in two games) is not questioned, but the forms and performance very poor against clearly inferior rivals like Jamaica (diminished) and Costa Rica (in absolute decay).
Here are five factors in Martino’s management that can be described as “whims“Of the coach or at least decisions that, to date, are not fully understood.
1.- Funes Mori
As expected, the call of Rogelio Funes Mori raised great controversy, as although he is a good striker, he is not even a footballer who will make a difference in the Mexican National Team.
He scored a few goals against low-level opponents in his presentation and Gold Cup, but has mostly been portrayed as a striker who currently misses more than he succeeds, but more than that, he is not a scorer toast superior alternatives to which they could offer Javier Hernández, Henry Martín, Alan Pulido, Santiago Giménez or even the ‘Mut’ Eduardo Aguirre.
The justification for his call after obtaining a Mexican passport in front of an anxious ‘Tata’ for this to happen, was that with the injury of Raúl Jiménez there was no other front center with similar characteristics, but it is proven that Funes Mori nor remotely is close to the best version of the Wolverhampton footballer.
Like it or not, in Mexico the issue of treating as naturalized those who are called to the Tri has not been standardized as one, as they are asked, demanded, and expected to be better than the born in Mexico –just or unfair-. And Rogelio is nothing more than those mentioned above.
2.- Roberto Alvarado
It is one of the favorites of the ‘Tata’ despite the fact that he is certainly a player with conditions, but that he is not consolidated and that he has marked ups and downs, in addition to the many opportunities in the National Team he has not justified.
Against Jamaica, at the start of the World Cup qualifier he started at the expense of Orbelín Pineda, a player who is living an extraordinary moment.
He had a fault that will be remembered for a long time; but, more than just stopping in this action, Alvarado has not represented imbalance, depth O vertigo playing stuck to the band.
3.- Chicharito
Martino has every right not to call Javier Hernández, but the question in this case is that the coach does not speak clearly.
when ‘Chicharito ‘ started the season scoring goals with the Galaxy, the ‘Tata’ gave all sorts of pretexts and even reached the point of taking injured on a tour of Europe to Alan Pulido and Henry Martin before calling Javier or someone else player.
It is well known that the reason why the top scorer in the history of the Tri is not called, is not due to a football issue, if not a indiscipline that the Argentinean does not pardon to him to the tapatío, and in this sense counts on the support of One of Luisa to have it marginalized from the Aztec ensemble.
Why not transparent and he says it with all the letters? Only Martino knows that.
4.- Carlos Salcedo
Salcedo’s subject was already unsustainable and for this start of World Cup qualifiers was not called; but, time and time again the coach insisted with this defense, which is very unstable and in the last Gold Cup he lived one of his worst moments in the National Team.
The mistakes he made were downright unlikely, as was Tata’s stubbornness to keep him on track. True, central defenses do not abound, but Salcedo was far from an alternative.
For these first three matches heading to Qatar, Julio César Domínguez received an unexpected and well-deserved call and at least against Costa Rica met as a right winger.
5. The ‘sacred cows’
Soccer players like Andrés Guardado or Héctor Moreno have not been living their best moment for a long time, located in the final part of their careers; however, they continue to be considered in the National Team.
The hierarchy, quality and history they have forged is not in doubt, but it is very likely that the time has come to bet on a renewal in which the two would no longer have room.
From the previous season at Betis, due to injuries and decisions of the coach, Saved lost prominence in the team, played little and for the start of the present there was even talk that the club was looking for a way out.
Andrés would reach his fifth World Cup at the age of 35 … is it worth rewarding his career by wearing it?
And Moreno, although now injured, in the recent Cups with the Tri showed that he is light years away from his best version, after his time in Qatar football where he was even a substitute for the ‘A el-Gharafa.
In Monterrey he will try to resume a certain level, but he would arrive in Qatar at the age of 34 …
We’ll see if Martino chooses to take perhaps to the World Cup or if he pays tribute to some veterans even if they are no longer to compete in the elite.
That being the case, of course it would be nonsense to talk about a change of helm in the Mexican team, but it will be the same if you look only at the results and qualify for the World Cup even comfortably.
CONCACAF is not, has not been and will not be a parameter to measure the scope that can be had in a World Cup. This will be the real test of Gerardo Martino and here can not be ruled by whims.