Copa America 2024 Team Previews: Mexico
The 2024 Copa America begins on June 20th in the United States, with six CONCACAF teams set to compete in the tournament. Over the next couple of weeks, we will preview every team playing in the competition. First up are the 2023 Gold Cup winners: Mexico!
Returning to the Copa America, Mexico is ranked 14th in the latest FIFA ranking. Once held as the giants of CONCACAF, the Mexican National Team has had a good history in the competition and will attempt to regain their status. This will be the 11th Copa America for CONCACAF nation. Let’s take a look at the “El Tri Color!”
Copa America Appearances
Despite not being part of CONMEBOL, Mexico is the team that has participated the most in the Copa America with 10 appearances. First appearing in the 1993 Copa America, “El Tri” was able to compete in nine straight appearances after. This will be the Mexican National team’s return to the Copa America, after not being invited to the 2019 and 2021 iterations.
Best Finish in Copa America
Mexico has finished the best in the tournament out of all CONCACAF nations. The Mexican National Team has finished as the runner-up in two Copa Americas; in 1993 and 2001. Mexico also has finished in third place multiple times.
Key Players
For the first time in a long time, the Mexican National Team won’t have goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in between the posts. Club America keeper Luis Malagon appears to have the starting job heading into the Copa America, providing a new face in the position.
Mexico won’t have Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano, Raul Jimenez, Jesus Gallardo, and other longtime on call ups the roster. “El Tri” will take younger players for a new start after a disappointing past few years.
The Mexican National Team will have promising 23-year-old Santiago Gimenez as the main striker heading into Copa America. Gimenez this season has 29 G/A in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord this season.
With Ochoa no longer playing for the national team, Mexico will have a new captain heading into the games. West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez will be Mexico’s captain heading into the Copa America.
Manager
The Mexican National Team has Jaime Lozano as manager heading into the 2024 Copa America. Lozano had to replace former Mexico manager Diego Cocca immediately after the 22-23 Nations League into the 2023 Gold Cup a few days later. Lozano led Mexico to win the Gold Cup despite having little time to manage the nation.
Biggest Game — vs Jamaica on June 22nd
“El Tri” will face the Jamaican National Team to open the group stage. Jamaica is no team to be taken lightly, with multiple players with Premier League experience on the squad such as Demarai Gray and Bobby Reid. Jamaica is one of the underrated teams in the tournament and will put up a big fight against Mexico. If Mexico were to lose this game, they would have to worry about facing Ecuador in the final match of the group stage for a chance at the knockouts.
Prediction
Though my heart wants Mexico to win the Copa America, they just won’t — especially with some questionable call-ups. I see Mexico topping the group and proceeding to the knockout rounds to face off against Canada in the quarterfinal round. In a close matchup, Mexico wins and heads into the semi-finals against 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup winners Argentina. This is where the dream for the Mexican National Team ends.
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