Despite
never winning a major trophy throughout its
80 years of existence, the Mexico soccer team slowly but surely rose to
become a serious contender in recent World Cups, as well as in the Copa
America. You probably know Mexicans as a passionate, Latin people and
this spirit translates into a specific playing style for the Mexico
national soccer team.
The success that other
American countries such as Uruguay, Brazil or Argentina had on the
World Cup stage also helped make soccer more popular throughout Mexico,
but at the same time, it also gave the Mexican soccer team a certain
ambition and desire to win, so that they don't lag behind their
neighbors.
World
Cup Record
Year
Position
Uruguay
- 1930
Round
1
Italy
- 1934
Did
Not Qualify
France
- 1938
Withdrew
Brazil
- 1950
Round
1
Switzerland
- 1954
Round
1
Sweden
- 1958
Round
1
Chile
- 1962
Round
1
England
- 1966
Round
1
Mexico
- 1970
Quarter
Finals
West
Germany - 1974
Did
Not Qualify
Argentina
- 1978
Round
1
Spain
- 1982
Did
Not Qualify
Mexico
- 1986
Quarter
Finals
Italy
- 1990
Disqualified
USA
- 1994
Top
16
France
- 1998
Top
16
Korea/Japan
Top
16
Germany
Top
16
Total
0
Championship
Just like in Brazil or Argentina, the streets of Mexico started filling
with kids kicking soccer balls all year long and it wasn't to be long
before these kids would grow up into the legendary Mexican national
soccer team players.
Players such as Manuel and
Felipe Rosas, who played in the Mexico soccer team at the first
World Cup in 1930, 1950's Horacio Casarin or Enrique Borja a
few years later would give the Mexican national soccer team the feel
that they won't go down without a fight, regardless who they were
playing against.
Mexico Soccer Team
– Best Performances - In 1970, the
Mexico soccer
team played at home and was expected to have a heavy word to say in the
final table of the tournament. Although Mexican fans were hoping at
least for a final, the Mexico national soccer team failed to go past
the quarter finals, which still stands as their best performance so
far.
They would repeat this
performance in 1986, when Mexico hosted their second World Cup ever.
After managing to top a group that had the Mexican soccer team playing
against Paraguay, Belgium and Iraq, they went on to beat
Bulgaria 2-0 in the round of 16 and the Mexican side looked confident
and powerful enough to be able to get the big jackpot this second try
at home.
Unfortunately, they met a
solid West Germany team in the quarter finals and despite putting up a
great display of physical and mental strength, the Mexican national
soccer team lost against the Germans 4-1 on penalties, after the score
settled at 0-0 in normal time and extra time.
The
Mexican team crushes the Iranian in the 2006 world cup.
Mexico Soccer Team
– Future With the period of time stretching between
1970 and 1986 being considered the Golden Age of the Mexico national
soccer team, its strength seemed to die down with
each passing World Cup, until recently.
From 1998 until 2006, the
Mexican soccer team managed to participate in all 4 World Cups and
although they did not pass second round in any of these occasions, they
had solid group performances.
But Mexican soccer and its
national team are definitely not finished. Actually, the fans can hope
for another great age for "The Tri", as they are now captained by one
of the best defenders in the World, Rafael Marquez, playing for FC
Barcelona.
In addition, there's a new
wave of young players coming hard towards the senior Mexico national
soccer team, which are bound to make a change. These youngsters managed
to win the Under-17 World Cup in 2005 and gave Mexican fans
throughout the world hope that they can soon win their first
international trophy at senior level.
