40-Year-Old Ochoa Dreams of a Sixth World Cup — and Aguirre Just Laughs When Asked
Mexico's coach laughs off questions about Ochoa and confirms a key player will be rested to avoid suspension. Here's what Aguirre said ahead of the match against the Czech Republic.
Forty years old, six World Cups under his belt, and a Javier Aguirre smile as the only answer. The Guillermo Ochoa saga has become the hottest topic in Mexico ahead of the country's final group-stage match.
Mexico are already through — and as Group A leaders, no less. Against the Czech Republic on Wednesday at 10 p.m. (Brasília time), Aguirre has room to rotate. And that brings the question the whole country wants answered: does Ochoa play?
"Stop asking me about Ochoa," the coach said, laughing, according to ge. He neither confirmed nor denied it, leaving everyone in suspense. His only public certainty was a different one: Brian Gutiérrez, already on a yellow card, will be rested to avoid missing the knockout stage. "I'll be careful with Brian because he already has a yellow card and, if he gets another one, he won't play in the next round," Aguirre explained.
Ochoa did give everyone a scare during Tuesday's training session, but according to ge, the technical staff are not concerned. Cesar Montes, sent off in the opening game, has served his suspension and is available again.
Aguirre also took the opportunity to demand more consistency from his side. "We didn't play badly, but in both games we weren't completely satisfied. We made avoidable mistakes," he said. Mexico went through, but the coach wants more.
Golmetria's model gives Mexico a 97.5% chance of advancing — virtually a done deal. The challenge now is to reach the round of sixteen with momentum, confidence, and perhaps with Ochoa's story written into the scoreline.
If the legendary goalkeeper takes the field on Wednesday, it will be one more chapter in a World Cup that loves a good narrative. And Mexico, sitting top of their group, have everything they need to write their own.