Mexico needs consistency, not change in wake of latest loss

After a 2-0 loss to the U.S. in World Cup qualifiers, fans and media have called for Mexico coach Sven-Göran Eriksson's firing. Andy Mead/Icon SMI Luis Bueno's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Luis. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

When a tough loss follows a string of poor results, it's natural to want to take out frustrations on someone. And when that tough loss comes against a bitter rival in arguably the biggest game of the year, it may seem like a foregone conclusion that the coach should pay with his job.

So it goes with Mexico and beleaguered coach Sven-Göran Eriksson. Mexico's 2-0 loss to the U.S. in Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match in Columbus, Ohio, was just the latest in a string of bad results and worse performances for the once-mighty Tri.

But despite the sad state of the Mexican national team, Mexican Football Federation officials should not respond to the overwhelmingly negative public and media reaction to this latest setback by sacking Eriksson. After all, that would only perpetuate the real problem: FMF's trigger-happy tendencies when dealing with coaches.

To their credit, FMF executives responded with support for Eriksson.

"We fully stand behind Eriksson because our objective is to reach the World Cup. And we will be at the World Cup," FMF president Justino Compeán said Thursday upon arriving in Mexico City. "There are 30 points at stake and we missed out on the first three. It pains us to lose. ...There is no justifying this defeat."

One loss, no matter how painful, will not keep Mexico out of the running for a spot in the 2010 World Cup. El Tri still has an immense home-field advantage, as the other five Hexagonal participants will be vast underdogs entering their respective matches in the Estadio Azteca. And traditionally, Mexico has done better in places like El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago than in the U.S..

Still, as Compeán said, there is no justifying the latest loss. The chance to start the Hexagonal off on the right foot is gone and now the team must prepare for a critical encounter against Costa Rica. And when that encounter comes, Eriksson should be the man guiding the team, plain and simple.

During the previous World Cup cycle, the coach had time to prepare the team for the rigors of qualification. Despite another second-round exit, Mexico had a strong performance in the '06 World Cup. Then-coach Ricardo Lavolpe had enjoyed unyielding support during his tenure as national team coach, and thus was given the time to work with the team, bring in new players and get rid of unproductive ones and prepare the team without the threat of losing his job. The result: qualification for the World Cup with two games to spare in a valiant effort in the Round of 16 match against Argentina.

It is unrealistic for anyone to expect a European coach to come in, learn the league and the region and succeed on the road in a matter of months. Now, at the very least Eriksson knows what he's up against. With the likely return of some injured and suspended players ahead of the Costa Rica encounter, Eriksson should have more to work with.

Additionally, if Eriksson were out, the FMF would run the risk of having to once again overhaul its team. Lavolpe didn't return after the 2006 World Cup and FMF handed Hugo Sánchez the reins. Sánchez brought in some players, got rid of others and went forward with his plan of taking Mexico to the 2010 World Cup. Along the way, his Olympic failures and reliance on the same foreign-born players he so harshly criticized during the Lavolpe era came back to haunt him and he was let go.

Jesus "Chucho" Ramírez, who took over as coach of Club América Wednesday, briefly relieved Sánchez before Eriksson was hired full-time. If Eriksson were fired, it would mean at least four men will have been in charge of Mexico at one time or another during this current World Cup qualifying cycle. How can any team find any form of consistency under those conditions?

Consistency breeds success, and Mexico's penchant for pulling the trigger on coaches too soon may finally have caught up to the national team. At least it seems this time, federation officials are learning their lesson.

"One bad result should not be catastrophic," FMF General Secretary Decio de María said Thursday. "We all wanted to win and while we didn't that does not mean we are not going to the World Cup. There are nine games left, 27 points at stake and to formulate conclusions after one game is hazardous."