To say that the sting of Mexico’s 7-0 defeat to Chile at the Copa America Centenario still lingers would be a making light of how many feel.

Mexico finished their group stage qualifying last month topping their group with five wins, one draw, and zero defeats, and only allowing one goal which came from the PK spot. However, the last image of El Tri was a 0-0 defeat to a defensively packed Honduras. As the players left with their heads down, fans rained down boos and chants of “Afuera Osorio”. Making their feelings known that what The Aztecs showed that night was not enough to the enjoyment of the crowd.

What’s next for Mexico in the qualifying is their toughest test they will face in The Hex. An away match in Columbus, Ohio, against the United States. In the last four qualifying matches in Columbus, Rafael Marquez has more red cards than the team has goals over those games, one red to zero goals (insert Dos a Cero chants here).

Osorio’s opportunity

Juan Carlos Osorio will be under pressure, yet with a fresh start all in one come November | Source: Getty Images

What this does present for Juan Carlos Osorio though, is a fresh start in many ways. While the federation, pundits, and fans will have high pressure on him to get a result against the most bitter of rivals, he’s entering a match where the four previous coaches who’ve gone to the Midwest have failed. The upcoming Friendlies give him a great chance to get his ducks in a line before the qualifying match in November. Losing in Ohio won’t mean losing the World Cup berth with every team starting fresh with zero points. Osorio, after all, went into San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in his second game in charge of Mexico and left with a win. The first win for them in the Central American Country’s captain for the first time in 50 years. He should have the belief in himself and the team that they can get a result. 

Fresh start for players

Because this can be seen as a somewhat new start for Osorio, this should also provide him with the chance in the friendlies next month to start fresh with the players as well. Brothers, Jonathan and Giovani Dos Santos, who are both in good form, along with close friend Carlos Vela, should all be given a chance to prove themselves that they can be valuable assets for Osorio come November. Another player who could be added to the list is Chivas forward Alan Pulido, who returns to Mexico after a stint in Greece.

El Tri was exposed for their lack of depth up top during the set of qualifying matches as Chicharito Hernandez and Oribe Peralta missed out because of broken bones and Raul Jimenez left after the first game after picking up an injury. Pulido, Vela, and Gio all seem like better attacking options than Angel Sepulveda, Angel Zaldivar, and Martin Barragan. The three attacking options Osorio called up earlier this month, who had a combined 0 caps to their name. For Jonathan, no one has yet to play to the level that Marquez (at the tender age of 37) has as the deep lying midfielder. Diego Reyes against Honduras struggled with their size and speed and brought back flashes if his awful performance against the same team in the same stadium three years before that. Others like Jesus Molina and Jesus Duenas have yet to have consistent performances and lack the great passing ability to switch the point of attack the way that Marquez, even at his age, excels at.

So while in the past it might seem like some of these players and Osorio have not seen eye to eye, with the quick trigger the Mexican Federation has when it comes to their coaches (14 coaches in 16 years), he could be playing for his job come November. Meaning next month in the friendlies, he has a chance to give himself, and many of his players, a fresh start to go into Columbus together on the same page.

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About the author
Ivan Sanchez-Carrasco
Based out of Portland, Oregon, A first generation Mexican-American who writes about the Mexican National team, as well as opinion pieces on other soccer topics. Also check out my other writing as well. http://futbolpulse.com/author/ivan-sanchez/