Mexico Rises: 7 Reasons Why El Tri Will Be a Favorite to Win the 2014 World Cup

Throughout the years, the Mexican national football team has had many ups and downs. They have tasted glory, faced humiliation (both on and off the field) and have been classified as mediocre all the way to world class.

Naturally, different World Cup cycles usher in different factors that can change a team’s status, perhaps turning what is good into great or what is average into something insignificant. This World Cup cycle, I have good reason to believe that the Mexican national football team will finally make the leap into becoming a world power and a contender for the title of world champion.

This article will identify the seven main reasons for this assumption. Feel free to leave comments and tell me what you think!

1. Youth

Although this can apply to many teams in the world right now (especially with the likes of Alexi Sanchez in Barcelona and David de Gea now in London), it is hard to dispute the fact that the Mexican national team has some of the most dangerous youngsters on the planet.

While all the fingers may point to Chicharito (who after recovering from his head injury is about to light up Manchester United for the second season in a row), we must not forget other names that will soon light up international soccer.

These include the likes of Memo Ochoa, who is fresh off his much-anticipated move to France, and Giovanni Dos Santos, who after an impressive showing at the 2011 Gold Cup (including what was in my and many others opinion, the best goal of 2011) is being eyed left and right by clubs in Spain and Italy.

As if that were not enough, the Mexican U-17 has just won the U-17 World Cup for the second time in a decade and two of its players have already had trials with Liverpool. These players, joined by the “golden generation” who won the 2005 U-17 World Cup in Peru, have the power to change the Mexican national team from an average (and sometimes even mediocre) team of broken dreams to a serious contender on the world stage. 

2. Opponents

It seems that the Mexican Football Federation has finally taken the hint: Friendlies against better opponents means better quality football and a better test for its players.

As any follower of El Tri knows very well, Mexico is often plagued with having to do battle against opponents that would be nothing short of a joke on the world stage. This is partly due to the fact that Mexico is a part of CONCACAF, a relatively weak confederation, and must therefore go against Central American and Caribbean teams time and again.

However, with friendlies against Brazil and Chile lined up before this year ends, it seems that El Tri will finally get the tests it needs rather than lining up against much weaker and more inexperienced sides. If this continues, there is no doubt that Mexico will shine in a short amount of time.

3. Coach

How many times has this happened to the Mexican national team? They beat a big opponent (Let’s say Brazil). Okay, good. Their next match is against a team who is much more inexperienced than they are so they begin to think that because they beat said opponent, all they have to do is show up and stand on the field and they will win without even trying. What happens?

They get punished due to sloppy football and the coach has to explain why his team lost to Guatemala or Ecuador. This has happened to Mexico time and again and has been the cause for many embarrassing defeats. However, it is clear that El Tri has entered a new era, the era of Jose Manuel “Chepo” De La Torre.

Ever since he took charge, the Mexican national team has been able to call upon newfound discipline and seriousness that has kept them on top of their game. Take the Gold Cup for example. In 2007, Mexico barely beat Cuba 1-0 and had to find its composure against Central American teams. Fast forward to 2011 and we have Mexico thrashing its lower opponents, which included coming out of the group stage with a combined score of 14-1.

Let’s face it, whatever it is Chepo is doing, it’s working. 

4. Fall of Traditional Powers

Maybe it’s too early to tell. Maybe it’s the result of bad coaching. Maybe it’s just bad luck. All excuses aside, there is one thing that is becoming more and more evident: The powerhouses of international football are not what they used to be.

Sure, Spain is still showing that they have no intention of giving up the top spot, but France is still struggling to gain momentum from the humiliating showings (both on and off the field) at last year’s World Cup. Additionally, their grouping with Spain in the 2014 qualifiers isn’t going to do them any favors.

Italy and England are far from their prime, and as anyone who watched the 2011 Copa America could clearly see, Brazil and Argentina aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed anymore. (How a team that calls upon the talents Messi, Tevez AND Agüero can’t produce goals is nothing short of a phenomenon, but that is for a later article.)

Aside from this, there is also an “environmental” factor to consider. No European team has ever lifted the World Cup trophy in South America, and with the exception of Spain’s victory in South Africa last year, never have they been able to win outside of Europe period. Hate it or love it, the gap between the weak and the elite is slowly but surely closing. 

5. Rise of CONCACAF

Although this reason may be controversial, it should not be taken lightly. Am I saying that the likes of Cuba and Nicaragua are at the same level as Spain? Of course not. What I am saying is that CONCACAF is not the same joke it used to be.

A couple of decades ago, Mexico was the only team in the whole confederation that could even dream of contending with the world’s top powers. Since then, many teams in the region have grown and become considerably stronger than they used to be. More specifically, there is one team that will give the biggest push.

Although I am a hardcore Mexico fan, and this is going to be difficult if not painful to recognize, the USA national team is becoming a powerhouse in international soccer. This means that although before the competition in CONCACAF was below par, El Tri now faces more formidable foes in their own region.

Mexico is still clearly the stronger side in the CONCACAF region, however, the difference is that they now have to fight for that title. Honduras, Costa Rica and Jamaica are not far from breaking through on the world stage, and they are teams that Mexico has to constantly play against due to qualifiers or regional tournaments.

This will give El Tri better tests than having to prepare against a lower-class team and then having to go against some of the best teams in the world. 

6. Experience

Besides having a promising youth, El Tri has the luxury of calling upon many older veterans (hopefully Chepo will have enough common sense to keep Cuauhtémoc Blanco who I’m pretty sure is close to needing a cane and hearing aid). Rafa Marquez will be playing in his fourth World Cup, while Carlos Salcido and “Maza” Rodriguez will be in their third.

It will be these players who will be able to lead the talented youth and spark creativity on the field. Naturally, they will not be as fast as they once were, but will nonetheless be essential to Mexico’s victory. As much as a third (if not more) of the starting lineup in 2014 will be experiencing their first World Cup, and having veterans by their side will make the whole experience easier and more effective.

7. 2013 Confederations Cup

By beating the USA in the Gold Cup final, Mexico automatically qualify for the Confederations Cup in Brazil in 2013.

There are a few reasons why this is essential to their improvement. First of all, it will put them against the best country from every confederation and will thus give valuable experience. Additionally, it will give Mexico a “test run” of the World Cup, as they will play in the stadiums that the world cup will actually be played in, as well as experiencing the weather, altitude etc.

Obviously, this will give El Tri invaluable experience. Also, Chepo will have access to all of his starters and will be able to experiment with what might be his starting lineup. Expect to see many of the youngsters use the tournament to show Chepo what they are made of. Worst case scenario, one of the choices turns out to be a flop and Chepo will have another year to rework his starting XI.

Needless to say, this tournament will be a pivotal point in Mexico’s success.