The 2014 FIFA World Cup has come and gone. It’s been more than a year since Germany took home the championship and since Mexico suffered a controversial exit at the hands of the Netherlands.
Mexico had fought tooth and nail against some of the tournament’s favorites. A Guillermo Ochoa-inspired Mexico kept a clean sheet against host Brazil, the second time in a row that Mexico had to face a host nation (South Africa in 2010).
It's actually sort of a slight on Mexico that they didn't beat Cuba by more last night.
El Tri had 44 shots on the night, but only sic of those went in.
Oribe Peralta had a hat trick for Mexico, with Carlos Vela, Andres Guardado and Giovani dos Santos also scoring.
Cuba was down to 16 players after six players (plus the manager) were held up in Cuba and one defected after arriving in the United States.
Poor Cuba. This always happens to them when they come to the U.S. Perhaps they thought it would be different now that relations between them and the U.S. are on the up and up, their players wouldn't defect during the tournament.
A delusion, if you ask me.
According to NBC Soccer, six Cuban players and head coach Raul Gonzalez are waiting for some VISA issues to clear up, and therefore will not be available for tonight's game against Mexico.
And you thought Mexico's summer coudn't get any worse.
Tuesday, in a Gold Cup warm-up against Honduras, Mexico forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez went down with a broken collarbone.
Hernandez will be out for about four weeks and will probably miss the whole Gold Cup.
Mexico’s national teams have had a Summer to forget. Every national team representing Mexico at a large international tournament has suffered failure.
With Mexico failing on all fronts this Summer, fans have emitted a collective groan of disappointment.
The Mexican saying, “They played like never before but lost like always,” can’t even be used in these circumstances. It’s been more of “there they go again, blowing their opportunity for international glory.”
After a lackluster season with Villarreal, it appears Mexican international Giovani Dos Santos is looking at a move to the MLS.
His representatives has reportedly initiated talks with the LA Galaxy, although spokespeople for the franchise and the MLS have so far denied any interest in the Mexican.
Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera recently came out stating that Javier Chicharito Hernandez could have been at the Copa America if it hadn’t been for some confusion with the Mexican Soccer Federation.
The highlight of Chicharito's Real Madrid career has to be the goal he scored against city-rivals Atletico Madrid during the second leg of the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.
That strike in the 88th minute took Real Madrid to the semifinal against Juventus. Thanks to the hard work of their Mexican forward, Los Blancos had finally defeated their tough as nails hometown rivals.
With that strike, Chicharito had proven himself an asset to Real Madrid’s season, a season that saw him for the most part banished to the bench.
The MLS has been making a name for itself in recent years as a "retirement home" for international superstars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, Kaka and Steven Gerrard.
Liga MX has been doing the same thing, with Queretaro spending last season with Ronaldinho on the roster.
Now, though, it looks like Liga MX is looking to up the ante, by obtaining an international star who is still playing at an elite level.
Vuoso shocked everyone with his late goal against Chile on Monday. The Argentine-born, naturalized Mexican put in a performance that showed hard work occasionally rumps talent. A match that showed El Tri have come far in the Copa America. In what could be their last chapter of their Copa America campaign, they face a beaten rival that has nothing to lose.