Marco Les

[Martín del Palacio @martindelp]

Como siempre, les pido un RT si les gustó, y suscríbanse a mi Substack, escribo mucho y cosas que normalmente no se leen en otros lugares. Vale la pena. Aquí el link https://t.co/cpYz3Hj1ew

[Roger Bonet "Ruxi" @Ruxiiii4]

Let's talk about Mexican football, about their World Cup, about Gilberto Mora and this new generation of talented midfielders, and about why I believe this match against England can give real hope for the future of Mexican football.

Mexico did a fantastic job at this World Cup. Four wins in a row against South Africa, South Korea, the Czech Republic and Ecuador, without conceding a single goal, before dominating England, one of the tournament favourites, for long periods and being brave enough to impose themselves.

Of course, hosting the World Cup and playing at altitude are significant advantages. But you don't reach this stage of a World Cup because of those factors alone.

I said it a few months ago: I felt Javier Aguirre and his coaching staff had found something. Mexico finally started to develop an identity. Before that, I struggled to understand what kind of team Mexico wanted to be. There wasn't a clear idea of how they wanted to play or what they wanted to represent on the pitch.

Aguirre realised he had an exceptional group of technical midfielders and that he needed to build around them. More importantly, he understood that Mexico had enough quality in midfield to dominate possession and look any national team in the eye. That's why he moved towards a 3-4-3 with a square midfield, allowing him to accommodate players like Erik Lira, Álvaro Fidalgo, Obed Vargas, Bryan Gutiérrez and Gilberto Mora. You can even add more names performing well in Liga MX, such as Marcel Ruiz, unfortunately injured, or Charly Rodríguez.

Mexico found its identity in that 3-4-3. The left winger, usually Julián Quiñones, played inside and enjoyed an outstanding World Cup in that role. Gallardo pushed high from left fullback, while the right back generally stayed deeper. This created a solid 3+2 rest defence that allowed Mexico to remain protected whenever possession was lost.

But the main reason I believe this system suited Mexico is because of the profiles they currently produce. Mexico lacks players who consistently threaten in behind or can punish opponents in transition with pace over long distances. One solution would have been to defend in a low 5-4-1 block and wait for transition opportunities. The problem is that if you don't have players capable of carrying those transitions, sooner or later your game plan collapses. It made a lot of sense for Mexico to be more dominant on the ball and, especially, to press opponents high from goal kicks and other restarts, something they had been doing well for a long time and that led to goals, such as the opener against South Africa.

Interestingly, Aguirre was actually more conservative during the group stage than he was against Ecuador and England. Against South Korea and the Czech Republic, Mexico often defended in a reactive 5-4-1. But against Ecuador and England, they pressed aggressively in a 4-4-2, enjoyed much more possession and controlled large parts of both matches.

There is one name that changed everything, Gilberto Mora.

At just 17 years old, he demanded the ball in front of more than 80,000 people at the Azteca Stadium and gave his teammates the confidence to play with courage. He showed Mexico that if you surround him with intelligent, technical players who can combine with him, this team can compete with anyone.

Suddenly, "Piojo" Alvarado started playing at a much higher level alongside Mora. Mexico began creating relationships, combining through quick one-twos, building wide triangles and, above all, generating dangerous crosses into the penalty area.

Alvarado would drift inside onto his stronger foot before delivering inswinging crosses towards Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. It became one of the defining images of Mexico's tournament.

Alvarado cuts inside, everyone inside the Azteca rises to their feet, and Raúl Jiménez powers a header into the net. You could hang it in the Louvre.

Yes, we can argue that Mexico struggled in the final minutes against England and that Aguirre made a mistake by introducing too many strikers and relying almost exclusively on crosses. But this is also the same Javier Aguirre who produced two incredibly brave game plans, trusted young players and selected the best performers rather than simply choosing those playing in Europe. In fact, Mexico fielded more Liga MX players than European-based players.

I'm not sure whether this evolution towards a more courageous, possession-oriented style was entirely Aguirre's idea, whether it was driven by Gilberto Mora's emergence, by the players themselves, or by the Mexican public demanding a braver national team. Perhaps it was a combination of all those factors. Whatever the reason, Javier Aguirre will always do what he believes gives his team the best chance of competing.

Now it's time for the Mexican Football Federation to think about the future.

The players themselves are already giving you an identity. You simply need to embrace it.

Everything should start with Gilberto Mora (17) and building a structure that allows him to flourish. Alongside him you have Obed Vargas (20), Bryan Gutiérrez (23), Marcel Ruiz (25) and Erik Lira (26). There aren't many areas of the pitch where Mexico is producing this much talent.

You can even add more players who still need time but have potential: Elías Montiel (20), Iker Fimbres (21), Denzel García (22), Fidel Ambriz (23) and Jordan Carrillo (24). There are more than enough talented young midfielders to build an identity around.

The next step is surrounding them with players who fit that style. If Mexico wants to become a dominant possession team, they need centre-backs capable of defending far from goal, pressing aggressively, covering large spaces and who can contribute in possession.

They already have Johan Vásquez (27), an established European defender who is left-footed, a rare and valuable profile, and perfectly suited to defending high while contributing in build-up. Now Mexico needs to produce more centre-backs with similar characteristics. Diego Campillo (24) could become one of them, but the search shouldn't stop there.

At full-back, the future is promising. Rodrigo Huescas (22) and Mateo Chávez (22) are already playing for FC Copenhagen and AZ Alkmaar at a young age. Both possess the energy and technical quality to overlap, underlap and defend aggressively in open spaces. Neither is particularly dominant aerially, which is another reason why Mexico should aim to defend further away from their own penalty area.

In goal, "Tala" Rangel (26) has shown he can become the right goalkeeper if Mexico continues down a possession-oriented path.

On wide attacking positions, Mexico still needs to produce more wingers capable of consistently winning 1v1 situations. Alvarado (27) and Huerta (25) offer solutions, and Alvarado showed throughout this World Cup that he has the quality to hurt opponents whenever he receives to feet.

But Mexico also needs wide players who can attack depth, stretch defensive lines and create more space for the midfielders to operate between the lines. They need more pace. More players capable of threatening large spaces.

Up front, Santiago Giménez (25) can be a good option. But he still needs to stay healthy more often and reach his best level. Then there's "Hormiga" González (23). He may not receive as much attention, but he has intelligent movement inside the box, consistently scores goals, attacks depth well and contributes aggressively in the press. When so many of your midfielders want the ball to feet and are more technical than athletic, having a striker who constantly stretches the opposition, attacks space and presses with intensity becomes incredibly valuable.

Of course, players like Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez can continue contributing while Mexico gradually gives more responsibility to younger profiles and develops the next generation of strikers.

Ultimately, this World Cup has allowed Mexico and its supporters to dream again, but there is still plenty of work to do.

Mexico needs to invest more in coach education to produce better Mexican coaches, who will eventually develop better players in the academies.

The federation should also make it easier for young Mexican players to move abroad earlier, even if transfer fees are lower.

And finally, promotion and relegation must return.

Young players develop fastest when they compete under pressure. Few matches are more demanding than fighting against relegation or battling for promotion. Those experiences shape players who can later perform on the biggest stages, like a World Cup.

The encouraging part is that Mexico has started talking about football again. Apart from a few journalists unwilling to evolve, most people have praised the way this team competed. The catastrophism and negativity that have surrounded Mexican football for years are slowly disappearing.

Mexico is a genuine football country, one of the greatest in the world in that respect. Few stadiums roar like the Azteca. Few cities live football like Mexico City. Everywhere you go, people are talking about their national team.

Now it's time for Mexico and its federation to match that passion with a long-term vision.

The potential is there. This team has planted the seed.

[Alejandro Montes @amontes_98]

Estas postales de ayer en el Estadio Azteca son impresionantes 🏟😍

[Francisco Alvarado @Paco_PatoAlv]

Para los nuevos, ahora 5 jugadores se van a Europa, uno empieza a meter un chingo de goles, ganamos la copa Oro, el delantero baja su nivel, 2 jugadores regresan a Tigres, perdemos contra honduras, corren al DT, clasificamos al mundial de 2030 y nos echan en el
5to partido. 👌

[𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐑 🦅🇲🇽 ✖️ @ElRincondelAme]

Un piloto anunciando la derrota de México. Noten como se le quiebra la voz 🥲

[The 44 ⚽️ @The_Forty_Four]

The BBC has done it again…

What an incredible montage of England vs Mexico

👏👏👏

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Football is everywhere in Mexico City. It’s embedded in this vibrant city, in these people, in the fabric of life here. Its stars’ images adorn billboards on buildings. Its stories dominate conversations about the selection, opposition, ambition and now this epic collision with England at Azteca for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup co-hosted by Mexico.

Football is on everyone’s lips, and on every street. Racks of Mexico shirts are pushed along the side of the road, blending in with traffic-slowed cars, some of which already have green flags flying from the windows. People go about their work in Mexico shirts as if it’s the office uniform. Two dogs are led through town wearing miniature replica shirts. That’s normal. That’s life here.

A group of triumphant schoolboy footballers, still in full kit, stand on a street corner posing for pictures with their trophy and passing fans in Brazil, Colombia or USA shirts. Yards away, workers erect huge security barriers to prevent fans climbing on bus shelters and monuments for better views of the many public screens showing footage from Azteca.

Football is everywhere from the moment you enter Mexico. In the immigration official who wanted to talk Raul Jimenez’s exit from Fulham. In the bakery with celebratory team cakes adorned with green icing. In the art exhibition with a centre-piece of 10 footballs painted by children. In the waitress in a side-street café promising access to match tickets for a couple of England fans. Not cheap.

Football seeps from the cracks in the pavements, from every pore of this city of chaos and charm. Visitors from US venues are immediately struck by the feeling of moving up a level. “I felt the passion straight away,” Thomas Tuchel said. “As soon as we landed in Mexico City, you feel the energy of the place, you see the people on the side of the street, getting a glimpse of the bus, people in front of the hotel. It makes you feel alive. It makes you sharper. I see the excitement in the players’ eyes.”

And so they should be excited. They get to perform on one of world football's great stages, the Azteca, where Pele and Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup, playing in front of 72,000 fans, all but 8,000 of them imploring Jimenez and the dangerous left-sided Julian Quinones to wreak havoc on England’s uncertain defence. Forget the feared meteorological storm; England face an early whirlwind blowing towards them as Mexico love to start strong, drawing on their bodies' greater connection with the altitude.

England are out of their comfort zone, at altitude, and so far out of their usual time zone that they play a game on a Sunday their fans back home watch on a Monday. They face hosts who have lost only two of 89 competitive internationals at Azteca. It’s all about whether England get tied up emotionally in all the talk of altitude and the Azteca’s reputation as a serial ambush site. Or just focus on the job in hand, beating a decent but not great team ranked below them in the Fifa standings.

“The stadium can create momentum and belief in the home team,” Tuchel added with a strong caveat. “We have very experienced players, who play up against the toughest teams for their clubs. It takes a lot of courage to get a top performance in Azteca stadium, against Mexico, but we have a brave team. You're in such an iconic place. It makes me feel very alive. It brings out the best of myself.”

Tuchel is aware of England’s last visit, 40 years ago, and the Hand of God of Argentina’s Maradona. Different opposition, same venue. “That was just painful, still hurts, but we're not here for revenge. We’re here to write our own chapter and we are ready. We have the spirit, we have the commitment to be together, to compete, to give everything for the nation back home to be proud.” If they raise their defensive game, England have a chance. #ENG #MEXENG #FIFAWorldCup

[Roberto Haz @tudimebeto]

El abrazo de Raúl Jiménez y Guillermo Ochoa llorando juntos, estoy devastado😭💔

[Roberto Haz @tudimebeto]

Qué locura cómo cantaron todos “Oye mi amor” de Maná en el Estadio Azteca😍❤️🇲🇽

[Rodolfo Landeros 🇲🇽 @RodolfoLanderos]

Acaba de escucharse un trueno colosal en las inmediaciones del Estadio Azteca.

En las pantallas al exterior muestran la leyenda ‘Protocolo de Tormenta Eléctrica Activado’.

[León Krauze @LeonKrauze]

Conmovedor

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

The Azteca, Mexico City. https://t.co/zshDEM7VL1

[José Ramón Fernández @joserra_espn]

Gran parte de los aficionados que asistan al México vs Inglaterra recibirán una bandera para alentar al Tri.

[Luke @LukeCarey1881]

The night before Mexico vs England, never experienced an atmosphere like it before, this is what the World Cup is all about!!

[León Krauze @LeonKrauze]

Improbables aficionados mexicanos en Irlanda.
(Es un vídeo de casa de apuestas, pero me gustó)

[(fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 @AdriRM33]

🗣️ Kylian Mbappé: "Si tenemos que meter las manos en la MIERDA, METEREMOS las manos en la MIERDA.

Paraguay pensó que íbamos a llegar de esmoquin, jugando un fútbol ofensivo bonito.

NOSOTROS TAMBIÉN SABEMOS JUGAR SUCIO, ellos juegan así."

HONOR KYKY 👏🏻 https://t.co/7tIIT9PPwK

[Salvador Iglesias Jr @Javisness]

🇲🇽 ¡SE SIGUEN SUMANDO! 🇲🇽❤️

Cada vez más marcas están adaptando temporalmente nombres, publicaciones y elementos de comunicación al español como una forma creativa de mostrar su apoyo a la Selección Mexicana rumbo al duelo de este domingo frente a Inglaterra⚽️
La iniciativa busca celebrar nuestra identidad, nuestra cultura y la pasión que une a millones de aficionados cuando juega México❤️

¿Te imaginas ver por unos días a las marcas dejando de lado el inglés para hablar completamente en español? Algunas ya comenzaron a hacerlo y la tendencia sigue creciendo en redes sociales.

Este domingo no solo se juega un partido, también se vive la emoción, el orgullo y la unión de toda una afición
💚🤍❤️

¿Qué marca te gustaría ver sumándose a esta iniciativa? 👀👇

[Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney]

A love letter to the Azteca, a stadium that has seen more of the best football history than any other

England have experienced problems but it's a privilege to play here

For all the talk of altitude, this is an altar

https://t.co/Lk437LzUb1