Copa America star blasts Mexico with 'arrogance' dig as El Tri media humiliated

Mexico's start to the Copa America has been bumpy, with El Tri sustaining an unexpected 1-0 defeat to Venezuela on Wednesday to put them at risk of missing the knockout stages. The media members who cover Mexico have now taken a hit , too, with Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo calling them "arrogant" for underestimating his country.

According to ESPN, the front page of a Mexican newspaper featured the phrase "Venezuela, I am your father" before the match. It seems Venezuelan players took note of that coverage.

"Mexico are a great team, who play well," Romo told TUDN . "We have the humility to recognize our opponents. We don't have that arrogance, that ignorance that a lot of Mexican journalists have, who underestimated us. We came here to do our jobs, and we got three points which are very valuable for us."

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Romo saved a late penalty to preserve three points for Venezuela and confirm advancement from Group B. Salomon Rondon, who plays club soccer in Mexico for Pachuca after a career spanning England, Russia and Spain, scored from the spot at the other end for Venezuela.

Mexico must defeat a formidable Ecuador side in its final group match to progress. Ecuador's squad contains several household names, including Chelsea star Moises Caicedo.

Mexico has been in a tailspin for several years, having fallen behind the United States in the CONCACAF pecking order amid a revolving door at manager. El Tri named Jaime Lozano their coach last year, hoping he could be the one to inspire a deep Copa America run and put the team back on track. The media, it seems, bought into the hype following a win in its Copa America opener over Jamaica.

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However, an injury to captain Edson Alvarez against Jamaica and the loss to Venezuela has undercut the belief that Mexico can make noise at the Copa America. Fans booed and threw cups toward El Tri personnel following the humbling result.

Adding to the sting, it had been a virtual home game for Mexico against Venezuela at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which houses a massive Mexican population. Yet Lozano, who promised "positive" soccer earlier this year, remains outwardly confident that El Tri can find a way to win against Ecuador despite the misstep.

"We have 90 minutes [left] and no one is getting off this ship and we're going to make it," Lozano said defiantly on Wednesday night. "We're going to make it, of that I'm sure."

Mexico's match against Ecuador is scheduled for Sunday at State Farm Stadium where the NFL's Arizona Cardinals play their games.