If the World Cup had a quintessential mid-table side, it would likely be Mexico. They are near-constant participants, and no team has played more matches — 64 in total — without winning the trophy.
Their fans can be demanding, but expectations were lower this summer. Still, the co-hosts ended a 40-year wait for a knockout victory by beating Ecuador, boosting confidence ahead of their meeting with England.
The elusive fifth game — the curse of the ‘quinto partido’ — has long haunted Mexico. El Tri were eliminated in the round of 16 at seven straight World Cups from 1994 to 2018, before an even tougher setback in Qatar, where they went out in the group stage.
Since then, Mexico have hired and dismissed two managers before rehiring the vastly experienced Aguirre for a third stint in 2024.
His preparations have been exhaustive. In the year leading up to the tournament, El Tri played 22 matches, giving Aguirre ample room to test tactics and personnel. He used 54 players in that span, with fewer than half making the final squad.
Those selected are now well-drilled, especially the 12 domestic-based players. Most reported for training on 6 May, meaning some had five weeks in camp by the start of the World Cup.