Copa America: Mexico from bad to worse; Venezuela with more faith

The Mexican National Team will have to take a flight back home with a lot to think about after being eliminated from Copa America 2024. 

• READ MORE: Mexico 0-0 Ecuador: Highlights, stats and result
• READ MORE: Jamaica 0-3 Venezuela: Highlights, stats and result
• READ MORE: Copa America Stats

A victory was mandatory for the Aztecs, who will have to watch the rest of the tournament at home as Ecuador, did its part to stay alive and seal yet another failure for Mexican soccer.

But it was not all bad news, the one who did find a happy ending was Venezuela, whose famous phrase “Mano, tengo fe” (Bro, I have faith), now they can say that they have more than faith, they have victory, and an impressive showing as an undefeated team in Copa America 2024. 

• The first keys have been defined

The first quarterfinal matches have already been defined: Argentina will face Ecuador and Venezuela goes against Canada.

The defending champions will open the phase next Thursday at NRG Stadium; while the ‘Vinotinto’ (Venezuela) will seek to maintain their great pace at AT&T Stadium on July 5.

Copa America: Mexico 0-0 Ecuador

• CONCACAF is left without Mexico

Mexico was eliminated from Copa América 2024 by finishing third in Group B and will have to return home with only four points from three matches.

Jaime Lozano’s team did not achieve its goal of reaching the semifinals and CONCACAF will be left with one less representative in the next phase, where so far, only Canada has qualified.

• Misjudged for Mexico?

Just 10 minutes in, the refereeing was again in the spotlight after a play in Ecuador’s area bounced off the hand of Félix Torres after he fought the ball in the air with Santiago Giménez.

Immediately, Mexican players ran to put pressure on the Guatemalan referee, Mario Escobar. However, the players’ objections did not prevail despite the referee’s consultation with the VAR system.

Jamaica 0-3 Venezuela

• Venezuela with more faith than ever

Venezuela resorted to had faith in themselves from start to finish, and it worked to reach not only quarterfinals, but to also become the top team in Group B.

The team coached by Fernando Batista achieved a perfect qualification with three victories and nine points.

• Rondón is on fire

Even at 34 years of age, Salomón Rondón continues to show why he is the star of the Venezuelan offense, as in this Copa América he has two goals in three games with his goal in the 3-0 victory over Jamaica.

The captain achieved six goals, which makes him the top scorer of his national team in the history of the tournament along with José Luis Dolguetta.