The Mexican national team´s last match in the group stage has taken place with great difficulty. Ironically, after the historical game and in memory of the current and already eliminated “die Mannschaft” (Germany) in which they were victorious, however, we should not cover the sun with a finger and perhaps we should not forget the fact that Mexico had a game against Sweden with a total collapse. A distracted, anxious, desperate and hesitant Mexican team that has had its worst encounter so far in Russia in 2018, but the question is, what are the implications of this – is it just a stumbling block, or did Sweden bathe us in “reality”?

Even with everything and their defeat, Mexico qualified for the round of 16 depending on a South Korea that has given us a lesson in play, bravery, and professionalism by leaving everything on the pitch with everything already lost and with the numbers against. Many people say that “it’s always the same” and, perhaps, it is very common that in World Cups we need the results of other matches to be able to keep moving forward even though, ironically, in Russia 2018 Mexico has already won two games. What is important is to be able to answer the above two questions objectively.

This match lost against a too much superior Sweden could perhaps only mean having had a bad day, like everyone else, as in everything, but it is also worth noting that it is the first time that Osorio pauses his rotations by repeating line-up against Sweden, which unfortunately has not worked well. It is almost certain that Sweden came with a better approach on the pitch than Mexico, they knew they had to go beyond a draw and they assured Mexico that, if they continued to play as they did today, their aspirations for the fifth game will simply remain the same and many will say that “it was the same again” and although Mexico was forceful in their first two games, this level of play will not be enough to continue advancing in the FIFA World Cup contest unfortunately. On the other hand, let’s not forget that Mexico has class A players but still can’t reach that collective level dreamed of by many and this is part of reality.

Juan Carlos Osorio and the team must analyze and improve the approach for their next opponent and they know it because if they don’t, Mexico is doomed to repeat “the old history” of Mexican football in this World Cup.