Soccer Loss by Mexico's El Tri Makes for a Major Bummer During Tough Times Richard Fausset - The Los Angeles Times
go to original September 12, 2013

U.S. players Landon Donovan, left, and Jermaine Jones, right, defend against Mexico's Giovani dos Santos in the first half at Columbus Crew Stadium in Ohio. (Jamie Sabau /Getty Images)

MEXICO CITY — The economy has slowed to a disappointing crawl, kidnappings and extortions are on the rise, and a radical teachers’ union has taken over the streets of Mexico City, refusing to go home.

Then came the horror — for Mexicans, at least — that unfolded on their television screens Tuesday night: A gaggle of gringos in short pants (the men's U.S. soccer team) delivered a decisive 2-0 beatdown of Mexico’s beloved national soccer squad, seriously jeopardizing El Tri's hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“FIASCO,” blared Wednesday morning’s headline in the newspaper El Universal. “El Tri does the ridiculous,” barked the leftist paper La Jornada. The daily paper Reforma riffed on the patriotic song “Mexico Lindo y Querido” (“Beautiful and Beloved Mexico”) with the headline, “Mexico Lindo y Que Herido” (“Beautiful Mexico — and how damaged”).

The tabloid Esto bitterly resorted to one word in all-caps English: “WHAT?”

With Tuesday’s decisive loss in front of nearly 25,000 fans in Columbus, Ohio, Mexico’s national team also lost an opportunity to buoy the spirit of a country that could use a shot of happy, unifying news. The honeymoon period enjoyed by President Enrique Peña Nieto, who took office in December, has faded, his ambitious reform package reawakening old political divisions and sending thousands into the streets to protest.

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