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Javier Aguirre has said for some time that the key to the Mexican team’s success at the World Cup is that they are a family. This family, it seems, is on a historic journey.
Mateo Chavez and Julian Quinones scored in the space of six minutes early in the second half and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday to complete wins in all three World Cup group games for the first time.
The 22-year-old Chávez opened in his first World Cup in the 55th minute and Quiñones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st minute. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in stoppage time.
“It was something very beautiful and I will take it with me to the grave,” Chávez said of his goal. “I imagined it many times; I dreamed of this.”
Mexico’s previous best performance in the group stage was two wins and a draw, achieved in 1986 and 2002 and both with Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri’s coach. Aguirre is back as coach this year, his third stint leading the national team.
After topping Group A, Mexico return to the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday in a round of 16 match against an opponent to be determined.
“Now comes the knockout stage; statistics and data don’t matter. We are achieving things, but what lies ahead is what counts,” Aguirre said. “Neither the players nor I dwell on what we just did; we think about what’s next.”
Mexico are unbeaten in nine World Cup games at the massive stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri have only lost twice at Azteca, most recently in the World Cup qualifier against Honduras on September 6, 2013.
The match on Wednesday included nods to Mexico’s past and future. Gilberto Mora, 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa came on in the 77th minute, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six World Cups.
Mora said “it’s like a dream come true after everything I’ve worked for.”
“Now we have tough opponents ahead,” he added. “We will keep working to stay on this path. We will continue to advance because the Mexican national team can become champions.”
However, Mexico’s triumph was marred by the return of a homophobic chant from fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against its football association. The chant, word for word, was heard near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.
The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point from three matches.
Mexico are unbeaten in 11 games since a friendly loss to Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Chávez was one of the five starters on Wednesday who did not start in the previous win over South Korea.
“Twenty-five of the 26 have played – that’s no small detail – and it’s also no small detail that everyone celebrates the goals,” Aguirre said.
Ochoa is making history in his probable farewell
Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the final 13 minutes of regulation, plus stoppage time, in what will likely be his final appearance for Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and plans to retire from international competition after the World Cup.
“Life – football – had this farewell in store for me, to end it all perfectly. For me, I left it all out there; I gave it my all,” Ochoa said. “I’m leaving with nothing left because I poured it all into my teams and the national squad.”
He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
“I felt Memo was going to play (but) for how long? I never knew until I said, ‘This is the moment,'” Aguirre said. “These are coaching decisions, but it was a night for Mexico to honor its legend, Memo.”
Raul Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured Luis Ángel Malagón, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup last year. Malagón’s injury opened the door for Ochoa’s return.
Ochoa became the oldest Mexican to play in the World Cup. The previous record holder was Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who was 37 when he played in South Africa in 2014.
After the game, the veteran goalkeeper kissed the goal post before kneeling down and being hugged by the rest of the squad.
“As for Memo’s appearance, we don’t know if he will say goodbye or not, but it was a nice tribute to his six world championships,” added Aguirre. “He’s a legend – he’s Mexican.” ___
Report from the Associated Press.
