Mexico Must Learn Their Lessons as They Prepare for Crucial Venezuela Clash

Can the real Mexico please stand up?

So far at the Copa America Centenario in the United States, El Tri have turned in 90 minutes of excellence. The only problem is they’ve combined that 90 minutes across two games.

In their Group C opener, Mexico managed to make Uruguay—a nation ranked ninth in the world by FIFA—look distinctly ordinary in the first half.

They dominated possession and caused problems with their movement and pace. It was thoroughly enjoyable to watch, provided you were not supporting Uruguay.

In the second half, however, Mexico lost their way against 10 men. After conceding a soft equaliser, two late goals snatched a 3-1 victory against an opposing lineup lacking the talismanic Luis Suarez.

Jamaica were not expected to provide such a stern test on Thursday, yet only some wayward finishing from Clayton Donaldson—plus some dubious officiating on a second-half penalty call—allowed Mexico clinch a 2-0 win.

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It shows how much is expected of this current group of players that Mexico cannot be entirely happy with their tournament so far, even though they are already certain of qualifying for the knockout stages.

The issue for head coach Juan Carlos Osorio's squad is the margin for error is now shrinking.

El Tri face surprise package Venezuela on Monday in their final group fixture.

Despite failing to pick up a solitary point in six 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in the CONMEBOL section, La Vinotinto have recorded two 1-0 wins on American soil.

Both nations are already certain of a place in the knockout stages ahead of their fixture at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, yet that doesn’t mean they can coast through the contest.

The winner of the game looks likely to face potential Group D runner-up Chile in the next round.

While wanting a quarter-final tie against the reigning Copa champions may seem unwise, it is better than the alternative—Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Mexico deserve to be considered serious contenders for the trophy. However, they will know—or at least have been told by journalists in recent days—that they have not beaten Los Gauchos since 2004 (and yes, Rafael Marquez did play in that 1-0 win).

In their most recent meeting, El Tri surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 in a friendly last September.

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They have a far better record against Chile, though. They have not lost in the last four fixtures between the countries, including recording a 1-0 triumph in a Copa warm-up fixture on June 2.

So, in effect, every match for Osorio’s side now matters. The route to the final was always going to be tricky, but at least they can control which path they head down.

Whoever El Tri face in the next round, they cannot afford to blow hot and cold, as they did against Uruguay.

They cannot risk being as sloppy in possession as they were against Jamaica either. Giving the ball away to The Reggae Boyz in your own half is one thing—doing the same to a side that contains a player like Messi is committing football suicide.

Journalist Tom Marshall pointed out as much for ESPN FC: "Put simply: If Mexico plays the same way—and makes similar errors—further down the line as it did against Jamaica, it can forget any thoughts of winning the Copa America Centenario. Lessons must be learned."

Midfielder Jesus Corona believes the key for El Tri is composure, according to comments he made during a news conference:

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We should have a bit more calm. Sometimes we're our own worst enemy because we get exasperated. We've got to keep playing with this force, this personality. There were 10 minutes where we came out playing well [against Jamaica], after that we didn't. We fell into these moments of impatience, but we've got to keep showing character and getting the ball.

"

Here is a squad on a 21-match unbeaten streak that knows it still has to get better.

Osorio has been in charge for the last nine matches of the run. The Colombian had a rather soft start to life in the job, although that should not detract from his achievements.

Wins over Canada (twice), El Salvador and Honduras in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying boosted confidence and gave the new boss the chance to get his feet under the table.

Now, however, both the coach and his players are gearing up for sterner tests in the coming days. It will be fascinating to see how they perform under greater pressure.

Group C may not have panned out quite as expected, but a game against Venezuela will shape Mexico’s 2016 Copa destiny.