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The head coach of Mexico – Gerardo Martinoannounced that his contract was over at the final whistle of the match against Saudi Arabia from Group “C” of World Cup 2022!
The Aztecs won 2:1but it turned out to be not enough to qualify for the 1/8-finals – “El Tri” finished with 4 points, the same as the second Polandbut the better goal difference of Lewandowski and company proved decisive.
“I am the first person responsible for this terrible disappointment and shame that we have allowed. Being responsible for it, it makes me very sad. I take full responsibility for this big shoot”announced Tata Martino after the match and added: “My contract ended the moment the referee blew the whistle and there was nothing more to do.”
Mexico is eliminated in the group stage of a World Cup for the first time since 1978 and after consistently reaching the round of 16 in the last 7 World Cups.
The 60-year-old Martino took the coaching post in 2019 after leading the American Atlanta United to the title in the domestic Major League Soccer. However, Mexico had a tough time qualifying for Qatar 2022, losing away to both the USA and Canada. The team lost both the finals of the CONCACAF League of Nations and the Gold Cup to the Americans, and additional tension was created by the fact that the leading scorer of the team, Javier Hernandez – Chicharito, was not called into the squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Martino, who is a former head coach of Argentina and Paraguay, leaves Mexico with a record of 42 wins, 12 draws and 12 losses in a total of 66 matches. We remind you that this is the second case of separation – yesterday, November 30 Carlos Queiroz resigned after Iran’s relegation from the World!
