On June 29, in an interview with FIFA, Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre expressed his belief that his coaching experience at previous FIFA World Cups would help "El Tri" (the nickname for the Mexican national team) end their forty-year winless streak in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages.
Mexico's last victory in a FIFA World Cup knockout match dates back to 1986. That match was also held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the current coach, Aguirre, was a midfielder on the team. In that game, Manuel Negrete scored one of the most iconic goals in FIFA World Cup history – a spectacular overhead kick – helping Mexico defeat Bulgaria 2-0 and advance to the next round.
Forty years have passed, and Mexico once again stands on the brink of ending this long wait. This generational knockout-stage curse has plagued the team, and now fans across the country are taking to the streets, hoping that this time, history can finally be rewritten.
However, history has not offered them much confidence. Since that 1986 victory, Mexico have repeatedly lost in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages, with some defeats proving particularly heartbreaking. Aguirre personally experienced three of them: at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he saw the team lose on penalties to Bulgaria as an assistant coach; at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, during his first stint as head coach, the team were eliminated by the United States; and at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he led the team to defeat against Argentina, once again failing to advance.
Since then, “what went wrong?” has remained a question surrounding Aguirre, and his answer has stayed largely consistent.
Before the match against Ecuador, Aguirre stated: "Winning is to the credit of the players, but losing is the responsibility of the head coach because, ultimately, we make the decisions. I don't like blaming failures on referees or luck."
"Those two losses were my responsibility. I may still make mistakes in the future because learning never stops. The important thing is not to make the same mistake twice."
Aguirre believes the biggest difference between this FIFA World Cup and his previous experiences is that it is being held in Mexico. He experienced the excitement of the 1986 FIFA World Cup as a player, and now he is feeling that atmosphere again as head coach. After the group stage match against the Czech Republic, the experienced coach admitted that he had once been overcome with emotion, jokingly attributing it to becoming more sentimental with age.
"Playing at home gives us immense motivation; the fans are our twelfth man."
Aguirre also admitted that the immense pressure of playing the opening match at home did affect the performance of some players. However, he believes the team has now overcome its nervousness. The real test is only just beginning: a FIFA World Cup knockout match on home soil, carrying not only the burden of forty years of history but also the challenge of facing a formidable South American opponent. South American teams have always been a difficult hurdle for Mexico in their FIFA World Cup journey.
"We are prepared for any situation," Aguirre said. "We want to keep moving forward, but we are human after all, and we also feel pressure. However, the team still has the same passion and fighting spirit as when we gathered almost 60 days ago."
Aguirre believes the team's extended period of preparation together has been an important factor in its growing cohesion. At the same time, he also believes the emergence of a new generation of players has enhanced the Mexican team's overall competitiveness.
"In 2002, only Paco from my team played in Europe. Today, more than a dozen players are playing in overseas leagues. This shows that Mexican players are no longer afraid to go abroad; they are willing to adapt to new environments and compete with the world's top players."
Mexico and Ecuador will not be meeting for the first time at the FIFA World Cup. In the group stage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, Mexico defeated the South American team 2-1. However, more than twenty years later, Aguirre believes that the balance of power between the two sides has changed.
"Today's Ecuador has developed into a team respected by everyone. In the past, they were slightly inferior to traditional South American powerhouses; now, they have joined those ranks."
Ecuador coach Becaccece once said that he hoped to be "the architect who helps players write their own stories." Aguirre, however, is determined to prevent his opponents from continuing to write new FIFA World Cup chapters. Under his leadership, Mexico has now climbed to ninth place in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Aguirre said: "I hope the team can maintain a solid defense tomorrow, play direct and efficient offense, and capitalize on more opportunities in front of goal. I have full confidence in my players."
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