México

    México gana a Arabia pero está eliminado del Mundial Qatar 2022

    La Selección Mexicana vence pero no le alcanza para Octavos de Final en la Copa del Mundo FIFA.


    Por:
    Fernando Vázquez.

    Se buscaba el quinto partido, cuando esta vez no habrá cuarto; se buscaba la diferencia de goles, cuando no hubo los suficientes: si tienes 44 años o menos, estás en un territorio anormal, en un limbo que era desconocido desde un oscuro lugar de Argentina en 1978 y con una Selección Mexicana distinta en Copas del Mundo, una TRIsteza tan grande como la ilusión rota.

    Publicidad

    Por primera vez en 44 años, México quedó fuera de un Mundial en Fase de Grupos, si bien logró vencer 2-1 a Arabia Saudita, un Tri que acumula un desánimo brutal en medio de una pírrica alegría de tres puntos que parecían catapultar a la gloria, al cuarto partido, pero que finalmente no se dio en el Mundial Qatar 2022.

    El espíritu de Alfredo del Águila, de Ricardo Peláez, de Luis Hernández, Cuauhtémoc Blanco y hasta Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández no faltó en el Estadio Lusail: todos los grandes anotadores del Tri en Copas del Mundo se apersonaron en el estadio más grande del torneo para dar un poco de esas anotaciones que tanta falta hacían en el máximo certamen, algo que vivió incluso Alexis Vega desde los primeros minutos.

    El atacante de Chivas tuvo el mano a mano recién iniciado el partido, con un balón estrellado en el portero Al Owais en lo que era un anticipo de que México iba a gastar todos los cartuchos ofensivos que no tuvo en los primeros partidos, o en las Eliminatorias para llegar a tierras mundialistas... o quizás en los cuatro años del 'Tata' con el Tri.

    Orbelín y Edson recuperaron cualquier cantidad de pelotas, pero sería Luis Chávez el hombre que se erigió más alto que cualquier imponente torre de Doha o el icónico Lusail. Un todo terreno del Pachuca que funciona también en las dunas qataríes, en la Bella Airosa o en el lodo, en el frío o en el infierno, Chávez puso todo el juego de los dirigidos por el 'Tata' a sus pies.

    Pero el gol no llegaba, tampoco en el 974 en unos primeros tiempos que solo hicieron aumentar el nervio de cuatro equipos que se jugaban la vida, el prestigio y el honor, con goles gritados pero no contabilizados, ya sea por fallas o por anulaciones en el VAR... hasta que llegó el segundo tiempo.

    Publicidad

    La reacción apareció con el silbatazo de reanudación: la magia llegó como tormenta de arena al 974 y a Lusail donde Henry Martín rompió la sequía mexicana en Qatar 2022 con un gol de frente al marco, casi al mismo tiempo en el que Mac Allister le anotaba a Polonia y Julián Álvarez anotaba uno más para la albiceleste.

    México explotó con un golazo de Luis Chávez de tiro libre a los 52', una oda a todo el sufrimiento vivido, a toda la frustración acumulada y a la falta de anotaciones que el Tri cargaba, un gol hermoso que inyectaba esperanza a las venas de un aficionado mexicano que esperaba lo peor... un gol tan bello como para despedirse de una Copa del Mundo, el último canto de un cisne que se iría para no volver.

    La obra estaba completa con dos marcadores 2-0... o casi. Las tarjetas clasificaban a Polonia y México continuó con una volcadura ofensiva por una diana más o para tener el rosario en mano en busca de que Argentina perforara una vez más a Polonia: ninguno de estos llegó, los finales TRIstes también existen en una Copa del Mundo y lo único que ocurrió fue el descuento del Al Dawsari en la compensación para Arabia, como para quitar la frustración de las tarjetas pero hacer oficial el adiós mexicano.

    Las Golondrinas opacaron esta vez al Cielito Lindo, el "no se pudo" al "sí se puede", no hay Chucky Lozano (ni siquiera con su gol anulado que pudo ser el 3-0): los gritos de Mundiales pasados desde Argentina 78 quedaron ahogados en la Fase de Grupos: 44 años que parecían diluirse entre los pies de Funes Mori o Raúl Jiménez que entraron infructuosamente en busca del milagro: no queda más que TRIsteza Mundial en Qatar 2022.

    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Mexico players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Mexico players line up for the team photos prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    Mexico's defender #15 Hector Moreno (R) reacts towards a touchline official during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
    Saudi Arabia's defender #04 Abdulelah Al-Amri checks on Mexico's midfielder #17 Orbelin Pineda during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
    Mexico's forward #10 Alexis Vega runs with the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
    Mexico's forward #22 Hirving Lozano reacts during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
    Saudi Arabia's French coach Herve Renard reacts on the touchline during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
    Mexico's midfielder #17 Orbelin Pineda (R) looks at Saudi Arabia's defender #05 Ali Al-Bulaihi (L) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Gerardo Martino, Head Coach of Mexico, gives their team instructions during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    Mexico's goalkeeper #13 Guillermo Ochoa holds the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
    Mexico's midfielder #24 Luis Chavez celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal from a free-kick during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP) (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)
    Mexico's midfielder #24 Luis Chavez celebrates scoring his team's second goal from a free-kick during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP) (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Luis Chavez of Mexico in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Gerardo Martino, Head Coach of Mexico, reacts with the team bench during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Raul Jimenez of Mexico is fouled by Riyadh Sharahili of Saudi Arabia during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Gerardo Martino, Head Coach of Mexico, reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico reacts after his side's third goal is disallowed due to offside during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Raul Jimenez of Mexico reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

    1 / 23
    Imagen Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
    LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Mexico players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)