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Mexico goes home happy despite loss
Posted: Tuesday June 30, 1998 11:51 AM
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Mexican fans had been down on the team before the World cup (AP) |
MONTPELLIER (Reuters) -- Mexico departs
the World Cup proudly after its agonizing 2-1 defeat by Germany.
"We leave with our faces to the sun," said coach Manuel Lapuente, in a
Mexican expression that was particularly apt after Monday's match in the
heat of Montpellier.
The Mexicans certainly have nothing to be embarrassed about after showing
fighting spirit and an adventurous style.
In the group stage they came from behind in all three games and only France scored
more goals.
Things looked shaky as they trailed South Korea
1-0 in their opening match but when Ha Seok-ju was sent off after 30
minutes they gradually took control.
Three second-half goals, including two for Luis Hernandez, gave Mexico an
ultimately comfortable victory.
It was worse against Belgium as a
red card for Pavel Pardo and two goals by Marc Wilmots had the Europeans
seemingly in charge.
But another red card -- for Belgium's Gert Verheyen -- sparked another
comeback and a penalty by Alberto Garcia Aspe followed by goal from
Cuauhtemoc Blanco earned a vital point.
Trailing the Netherlands
2-0, with Belgium leading South Korea, Mexico looked destined for yet
another first-round exit.
But again the Mexicans threw caution to the wind and poured forward. Their
reward for relentless attacking was goals by Ricardo Pelaez and, in injury
time, Hernandez.
South Korea's equalizer meant they were in the second round anyway but the
lift that draw gave them was huge.
And so to face Germany, the European champions and three-time World Cup
winners.
For the first time in four games Mexico scored first and Hernandez's
fourth, and best, goal of the tournament was reward for some enterprising
play.
The long-haired striker had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 after an hour
but shot weakly, opening the way for Germany to make a comeback that
surprised no-one.
It was hard on Mexico, which certainly did not seem overawed by its
illustrious opponents.
But the Mexicans' post-match comments show the mental gulf that exists
between themselves and the world's leading nations.
"I'm very proud of my players and the way they attacked a team like
Germany," said Lapuente.
"Most importantly we scored and we showed that we are a team able to
compete with the best."
The players held similar views, with veteran keeper Jorge Campos saying:
"It's a disappointment but we are already proud of getting past the first
round. From now on Mexico will have a new image."
"Our football is still worthy of the best European teams which we have
already proved against the Netherlands," said striker Francisco Palencia.
Hernandez, who is likely to find himself courted by several leading
European clubs, said: "We were so close to a huge win -- but we can still
be proud of what we have done."
Lapuente, who said before the tournament that success for Mexico would be
reaching the second round, said on Monday: "We came with a lot of
potential, we attacked, scored goals and had some fun. We also learned a
lot and Mexican football will go forward from here."
It is a somewhat strange attitude from the coach of a team ranked by FIFA
as the fourth best in the world which has just competed in its 11th World
Cup.
It is impossible to imagine the coaches of Brazil, Germany,
Italy or Argentina
talking of the fun they had had after failing to reach the last eight.
Lapuente says it is too early to analyse his team's overall performance in
France, although he insists it was a "positive tournament."
As the usual suspects prepare to take their places in the quarter-finals,
Mexico finds itself watching on TV along with the other brave-but-unlucky
long-shot outsiders.
Mexico is still very much in the shadow of the powers of South America and
Europe.
Perhaps only when it removes the glory from second-round defeat will it
finally be able to make the desperately needed quantum leap forward.
Until then, Mexico will be the fourth-best team on the planet only in the
creative minds of FIFA's statisticians.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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