The tricolor dream, against the odds and against common sense
It seems that the Mexican Under-17 Team likes to do things dramatically, because what fun is there in qualifying without your legs failing from fright? In a match that was a treatise on emotional management (or lack thereof), the national team defeated Argentina in a penalty shootout that had more plot twists than an old soap opera. After a 2-2 draw in regulation time, where Mexico showed that it can be a sleeping lion that, if awakened, turns into a very hungry feline, Carlos Cariño‘s squad decided that calmly advancing to the round of 16 of the U-17 World Cup in Qatar was too boring.
It all started as it usually happens when Mexico faces a giant: with a great goal against them that makes one wonder if it wouldn’t be better to dedicate themselves to chess. Ramiro Tulián, with astonishing calm, placed a right-footed shot from outside the area that left Santiago López, the goalkeeper, looking at the ball as if it were an interstellar object. Argentina, very comfortable in its role as favorite, controlled the match while Mexico seemed to be in a spiritual search for the ball.
From nothing to everything, and vice versa, in a flash
But here the second half arrived and, with it, a completely different version of the tricolor team. One almost wonders if during the break they were given a magic energy drink or simply reminded that a pass to the next phase was at stake. In the blink of an eye, Luis Gamboa appeared as if by magic to connect with a cross from Ian Olvera and score with a header. Locker room goal, they call it. What no one expected was that Gamboa himself, feeling inspired, decided that one was not enough and scored a second goal to turn the score around. Mexico, suddenly, not only competed, but won.
And then, when everyone began to look for tickets for the round of 16, the moment for comedy arrived. With the victory practically in his pocket, Santiago López, our beloved goalkeeper, had a misunderstood lapse of prominence. He launched himself in an outing that can only be described as “optimistic”, leaving the goal more alone than a one-man-band in absolute silence. Fernando Closter, it couldn’t be any other way, tied the game. Because, of course, what would Mexican soccer be without a bit of collective cardiac suffering?
But the scriptwriter of this madness had one last act prepared. In the penalty shootout, the same López who minutes before had been the laughing stock, became the unexpected hero. He stopped the first Argentine shot with a certainty that made one doubt whether it had been a twin who made the previous mistake. And then, as if to finish the job, he stood up to take the fifth and final penalty. Because what better way to redeem yourself than by assuming a responsibility that is 99% not yours? It didn’t fail. The villain became a hero, the tragedy became a comedy, and the fans became a bundle of nerves in need of therapy.
That’s right, friends. Mexico is still alive in the U-17 World Cup and, in the process, it returns a little of that historical pain that Argentina has inflicted on us. It was time, right? Now it’s time to face Portugal. Because a rollercoaster of emotions is not enough; You need to go on the attraction next door.
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