The Argentinian Diego CoccaMexico coach, assured this Sunday that he felt calm with his team, despite the tie at the Azteca stadium against Jamaica, in the Concacaf Nations League.
“In the second half we beat them, That gives me peace of mind knowing that we are on the right track. The forms, what the team showed, the personality, shows me that this is the way. They felt identified and I liked the idea, we tried everywhere and the team kept up the intensity, ”he said.
The Mexicans, fifteenth in the FIFA ranking, were forced to go from less to more against Jamaica, who took the lead twice in a match in which those led by Cocca they could not mark superiority in the middle of the field and they had difficulties against the best passing game of the Caribbean.
Jamaica, the 64th team in the world, took the lead with a goal from Bobby Reid, Mexico tied with a forehand by Orbelín Pinedabut an own goal by Édson Álvarez put the Jamaicans back in front.
Given the good defense of the rival, Mexico needed a penalty in stoppage time of the first half to tie with a goal from Hirving Lozano.
Despite not being able to win in his field, Cocca reiterated his satisfaction.
“I am happy with the unity of the group, with what was done on the field, the number of situations created. We have to keep improving but I am with the players and they will show the people that there is hunger”, added the strategist.
The Mexicans qualified for the semifinal of the Concacaf Nations League, but the fans were dissatisfied with the performance this Sunday, which came after a 0-2 victory against Suriname, 139 in the world ranking, which on Thursday dominated the Mexicans in the first half before being defeated in the second.
“I see a lot of room to improve, we are not at the level we want; We are going down that path, we are convinced that it is down that path.” accepted Cocca, who asked the fans for support, convinced to turn around the poor performance of his team.
Diego Cocca took the reins of the Mexican team, after the failure in the World Cup in Qatar, in which ‘el Tri’ was eliminated in the group stage after qualifying for the round of 16 in the previous seven World Cups.
The strategist’s mission is to make Mexico growwith the idea that the team will be the protagonist in the 2026 World Cup.
(With information from EFE)