Tim Ream's bold assertion in March, labeling Mexico as a predictable team in international competition, was starkly validated during the Copa America . His comments have aged well after Mexico's elimination from the tournament in the group stages.
Mexico's performance in the Copa America was unexpected by its fanbase. Scoring just one goal across three games and failing to advance to the quarterfinals after a goalless draw with Ecuador was a night-and-day departure from their usual competitive spirit.
Their campaign ended abruptly with a 1-1-1 record in Group B, leading to their official elimination from the competition. The draw allowed Ecuador to advance, securing second place behind Venezuela, which swept all three of its games in the group.
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When Ream and the USA defeated Mexico 2-0 to win their third consecutive Nations League title, he discussed how the team followed its defensive game plan to a tee to beat Mexico. Ream called the Mexican team predictable, insinuating a lack of creative offense.
"We knew they were predictable anyway. It's the most direct Mexico team that there's been, and that was discussed yesterday and today,” he said.
“And so, we expected exactly what they did, and it played right into what we knew and what we were aware of. So, it may have looked predictable, but again, that's because it was. We knew exactly what was coming and we knew exactly how to make the game ours and how to hurt them.”
Outside of glaring goal-scoring issues, the team's defense faced scrutiny throughout the competition. Despite allowing only one goal in three games, Mexico struggled to maintain possession, consistently losing the ball while falling out of control of the game's tempo. This led to a lack of sustained pressure on their opponents and an inability to create consistent scoring opportunities, let alone find the back of the net.
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Fans of the program questioned manager Jaime Lozano' s future after the team's underwhelming performance. They criticized his tactics and player usage, particularly his decision to wait until the final minutes to sub in Erick Sanchez and Jordi Cortizo when the attack was flat and the game seemed out of reach.
Lozano was criticized for not including veterans like Guillermo Ochoa, Hirving Lozano, and Raul Jimenez on the Copa America roster. Supporters felt their experience and leadership were missed, especially Jimenez, Mexico's sixth all-time top scorer with 33 goals in 104 appearances.
Before the game, Lozano ironically spoke about the team's urgency to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. But the performance on the field fell short of his pre-match rallying cry, leaving fans and analysts questioning the team's direction. "We have 90 minutes [left] and no one is getting off this ship and we're going to make it," said Lozano after losing to Venezuela. "We're going to make it, of that I'm sure."
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