Mexico National Soccer Team News

A sign of hope? Mexico dominates CONCACAF's ideal XI according to IFFHS

By Wilian Estrella

The Mexican team was better than Canada and the USMNT, according to the respected organization. 

The Mexican team was better than Canada and the USMNT, according to the respected organization. 

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As if it were a sign of hope, Mexico dominates the CONCACAF XI according to the IFFHS, with the institution sustaining that the Mexican team was better than Canada or the USMNT, at least on an individual level.

 

The complete list of CONCACAF's ideal IX according to the IFFHS, of 2021

Formation: (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper

Francisco OCHOA (Mexico/Club America)

Defenders

Alvas POWELL (Jamaica/Philadelphia Union)

Edson ALVAREZ (Mexico/Ajax FC)

Miles ROBINSON (USA/Atlanta United)

Alphonso DAVIES (Canada/FC Bayern Munich)

Midfielders

Weston Mc KENNIE (USA/Juventus FC)

Bruce AARONSON (USA/RB Salzburg)

Hector HERRERA (Mexico/Atletico Madrid)

Strikers

Hirving LOZANO (Mexico/Napoli SC)

Jonathan DAVID (Canada/Lille OSC)

Cyle LARIN (Canada/Besiktas)

Substitutes

Matt TURNER (USA/Revolution New England)

Damion LOWE (Jamaica/Al-Ittihad)

Sebastien VEGAS (Mexico/Monterrey)

Julian ARAUJO (USA/Galaxy LA)

Tajon BUCHANAN (Canada/Club Brugge)

Rogelio FUNES MORI (Mexico/CF Monterrey)

Ricardo PEPI (USA/FC Dallas)

COACH - Javier AGUIRRE (Mexico/CF Monterrey)

And it is a sign of hope after 2021 that has just ended and left Mexico unable to secure its ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Even in the FIFA ranking, El Tri had appeared below the USMNT. 

The Federation of Football History and Statistics released this ideal XI in which players such as Guillermo Ochoa, Edson Alvarez, or even Hirving Lozano stand out. 

And while the Mexican national team had 4 of its players recognized as starters in this ideal XI, Canada, and the USMNT could only have 3 of their players as starters. 

According to the organization, the individual performances of the aforementioned players were much better than those of the other CONCACAF countries

For the United States, players such as Miles Robinson and Weston McKennie were taken into account, while for Canada, players such as Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies appeared

Controversy with IFFHS and Keylor Navas

Sometimes, when the International Federation of Football History and Statistics releases its lists or ratings on world soccer, its reviews are not always very well regarded

For example, in this year's review, Guillermo Ochoa was placed in the ideal team, but Carlos Salcedo, current player of Tigres and who is currently on the verge of moving to Galatasaray, was completely omitted

This assessment is particular because this year Guillermo Ochoa did not win anything either with Club America or with the Mexican national team, while Salcedo managed to at least reach the semifinals of Liga MX.

Another point that triggered the controversy was that Keylor Navas was not even considered for the substitutes' group, where it was decided to place Matt Turner.

While Turner was instrumental in the USMNT winning the Gold Cup and was MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Navas was a factor in Paris Saint-Germain reaching the Champions League semifinals

Probably what has sparked the controversy is that many people don't know how CONCACAF decides its ideal XI. 

How does CONCACAF choose the ideal XI?

All competitions organized by CONCACAF in 2021 were considered for the selection of the 18 players that appear in this combined squad.

But not only in national team competitions, but also at the club level, which would explain the predominance of Mexico in the ideal team, and the presence of Javier Aguirre as the best coach, since Monterrey won the CONCACAF Champions League.


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