Photograph by Shaun Clark/ISI Images/Getty Pictures
Mexico received their first ever CONCACAF Nations League after defeating Panama by a 2-1 rating. Mexico conquered one other trophy for his or her assortment and made a press release that can give an enormous increase to Coach Javier Aguirre in his third tenure on the helm of the Nationwide Staff. Right here at FMF State of Thoughts we are going to give an general view on how the title was conquered and who’re the winners and losers from the highway to the cup.
Mexico v Honduras – CONCACAF Nations League
Quarterfinals vs Honduras
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Mexico began their collection with a troublesome match up in opposition to Honduras and it couldn’t have began in a worse manner. Mexico would journey to Honduras the place they confronted a hostile setting. Whereas Mexico dealt with themselves nicely within the first half of the match, two objectives by Luis Palma within the 2nd half doomed them for a 2-0 loss. To make issues worse, on the finish of the match, Coach Javier Aguirre bought hit with a beer can that gave him a nasty lower which whereas a nasty factor on the time, might need been an enormous profit for the staff in the long run.
For the 2nd leg, whereas the Mexican Nationwide staff would have gotten a whole lot of criticism for the loss, the beer can incident had galvanized the followers and nearly everybody in Mexico in opposition to Honduras and Mexico had a bought out and vigorous crowd in Toluca for the return leg. With the assistance of the group, Mexico turned issues round and utterly dominated. A primary half objective from Raul Jimenez had the staff midway to their objective and within the 2nd half, Henry Martin would rating to offer Mexico the 2-0 lead. It was a matter of time earlier than Jorge Sanchez scored the objective that gave Mexico the ticket to the Semifinals of the Nations League and Martin added a Penalty Kick objective in damage time for a 4-0 win that gave an enormous increase to Mexico and Coach Javier Aguirre with an general nice efficiency to shut out a Topsy Turvy 2024.
Canada v Mexico – CONCACAF Nations League: Semifinal
2. Semifinal vs Canada
Mexico got here into the Semifinal of the Nations League as slight underdogs after the disappointing 2024. However, Canada might have been thought of the favourite staff based mostly on their 2024 Copa America the place they completed in fourth place. They backed it up with an amazing Quarterfinals collection in opposition to Suriname they usually had been wanting as the higher staff coming in. But Mexico shocked everybody by scoring 45 seconds into the match with the beginning of Raul Jimenez’s nice run with the Nationwide staff. A controversial non name on a doable PK for Mexico would later be joined by a controversial no name on the already Yellow carded Canadian defender Alistair Johnson. It was a troublesome recreation for Mexico, who sat again and misplaced possession in opposition to Canada, though with the lead which made it look as extra technique than the rest. Within the 2nd half, a free kick allowed Raul Jimenez to attain one in every of his greatest ever objectives with Mexico that settled issues and though Canada saved pushing, Mexico held themselves solidly within the again and bought the win that bought them to the ultimate in opposition to the shocking Canada.
Mexico v Panama – CONCACAF Nations League: Semifinal
3. Mexico vs Panama
If Mexico got here to the semifinal as slight underdogs, they got here to the ultimate as heavy favorites. Whereas Panama had been the shock of the match by eliminating the United State, Mexico had been having success in opposition to Panama they usually had been the higher squad. Mexico would as soon as once more take an early lead when 7 minutes in, Raul Jimenez took benefit of a mistake by Panama’s goalkeeper to get a header into the empty internet. Mexico would as soon as once more sit again with the lead and attempt to counter which gave a spirited Panama a whole lot of probabilities. Simply previous to halftime, a play similar to the one not referred to as in opposition to Canada ended up being referred to as and Panama bought a Penalty Kick that Adalberto Carrasquilla transformed to tie the match. To Mexico’s credit score, the 2nd half was all Mexico as they dominated possession however couldn’t break via the excellent defensive plan, which had already paid off for Panama in opposition to the USA. To the shock of everybody, within the 89th minute a blatant handball from Jose Cordoba gave Mexico a PK. Raul Jimenez transformed and Mexico was in a position to lastly win a CONCACAF Nations League cup.
Panama v Mexico: Remaining – CONCACAF Nations League
Winners
The Man
Panama v Mexico: Remaining – CONCACAF Nations League
Raul Jimenez was the massive winner of the match. His efficiency within the Nations League is historic because it has the be one of the dominant efficiency by a Mexican participant in a match within the Mexican Nationwide staff historical past. Scoring ALL objectives within the Remaining 4 in addition to the opener within the Return Leg in opposition to Honduras has elevated him to large heights. If there was a debate of who needs to be a starter for the Nationwide staff, it was buried within the match. If Jimenez is wholesome, he needs to be an computerized starter in any necessary match that Mexico has from right here on to the 2026 World Cup.
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Different winners
The opposite large winner must be Coach Javier Aguirre, who received the primary ever Nations League and his second ever cup as Nationwide staff coach (the opposite being the 2009 Gold Cup). Whereas it wasn’t excellent performances, they had been the higher staff within the wins and Aguirre will get a whole lot of leeway as he prepares for 2026.
Among the many gamers defender Johan Vasquez has settled issues on protection with one other nice efficiency and extra so with how his absence was felt within the Honduras collection. Edson Alvarez additionally captained his strategy to a title with Mexico and was very stable in opposition to Canada though nonetheless suffered when Mexico needed to have the majority of offense in opposition to Panama.
What’s subsequent for Mexico?
Mexico will now put together for the 2025 Gold Cup had been the are the defending champions. Mexico will go into the match, for the primary time shortly, as not probably the most pressed staff to win due to the Nations League title. America, which resulted in 4th place within the Nations League after dropping to Panama and Canada is in disaster mode with a whole lot of strain on new coach Mauricio Pochettino. That being stated, the pres in Mexico is all the time probably the most ferocious however this win can provide Aguirre sure leeway. The opposite large purpose why there may not be as a lot strain as regular is as a result of they match will probably be upstaged by the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup. FIFA has already declared that the match takes precedent over the rest happening and golf equipment are allowed to maintain their gamers for it, that means no gamers in Membership World Cup groups will probably be taking part in within the Gold Cup. Added to the truth that different CONCACAF groups are in the course of World Cup qualifiers and the Gold Cup will probably be an alternate competitors type common editions. It could be extra necessary for Aguirre the 2 friendlies in preparation for the Gold Cup in opposition to Switzerland and Turkey. As Mexico prepares for the summer season, it actually is a large increase that they’ll accomplish that as Nations League Champions.
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