Mexico boss Jaime ‘Jimmy’ Lozano admitted the USMNT have widened the gap between the two national teams after extending their unbeaten streak against their southern rivals to seven games.
Just when things were starting to look up for Mexico under Lozano after last summer’s Gold Cup triumph, it all came crashing down again at the hands of the US. Even though the Stars and Stripes have flexed their muscles over their rivals in the last couple of years, Sunday night’s Nations League final looked quite even on paper and many were expecting an entertaining contest.
However, Gregg Berhalter’s side never looked like they would do anything but lift their third straight Nations League title, while Mexico were very much playing within themselves — something that’s happened more and more in the last few meetings between the two North American countries.
Lozano pointed to the fact that the USMNT simply have more players featuring in the top leagues in Europe and around the world week in and week out. El Tri themselves have plenty of players plying their trade abroad, but Lozano chose to start four players from Liga MX despite having the likes of Santiago Gimenez and Orbelin Pineda — who both play in Europe — on the bench.
“I believe it is the time at which they send the players to the European clubs,” Lozano said after the defeat. “That makes a difference. For me, that’s it. Because today they’re in very good leagues, they compete in different games every week. And that is what we have to take in mind in Mexican soccer – to send our players internationally early, so they can compete at the same rhythm at which they [the USA] are doing.”
Mexico — who last beat the US back in September 2019 — return to the pitch in early June to take on Uruguay and Brazil in friendly action. El Tri begin their Copa America journey on June 22 against Jamaica at NRG Stadium, looking to make their mark alongside some of the best nations in international soccer.
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