Gerardo "Tata" Martino left his role as Mexico's football team manager after Mexico got eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in their final group game on Wednesday, Nov. 30. However, the win wasn't enough to make the last 16 as they missed out to Poland on goal difference. The Mexican team lost to Argentina and ended up in a draw with Poland and took just one point from their first two matches in Qatar, ESPN reported.
After the first two matches and just one point in hand, Mexico needed a multigoal result against Saudi Arabia in order to significantly boost their chances for a place in the knockout round. Mexico was up 2-0 in the early stages of the second half and needed just one more goal to ensure a spot in the round of 16. However, the goal came from Saudi Arabia's side.
"It was difficult because the end [of the match] was arriving and we knew we needed one more goal. We were looking for it, trying," defender Kevin Alvarez said.
After the game, Martino said that his contract had ended following Mexico's elimination.
"I am the first responsible for this terrible disappointment and frustration that we have," Martino said. "As the person in charge, it causes a lot of sadness, I fully assume responsibility for this great failure. My contract ended as soon as the referee blew the final whistle and there is nothing more to be done."
It is the first time Mexico will not be featured in the World Cup knockout stage since 1990. However, in 1990, they were banned from the tournament. The last time the Mexican team qualified for the tournament and failed to make it out of the group stage was 44 years ago in 1978, Mexico News Daily reported.
"It's sad, it's ugly, and well, that's how football is," midfielder Orbelin Pineda said after being knocked out. "When you have to take advantage [of opportunities], you have to give your best."
Goalkeeper and captain of the Mexican team Guillermo Ochoa said after the match that his team fell short of the expectations they had set for themselves before the game.
"For us, the objective was to score three or four goals. It's a shame because we tried and we did our best," Ochoa said. "We created opportunities and I feel like we could have scored more goals today. We weren't sharp, there were offside calls and it's a shame."
Martino previously coached his native Argentina and took over as Mexico boss in January 2019 after he led Atlanta United to victory in MLS Cup.
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