Mexico entered the Copa America Centenario as one of the pre-tournament favorites. There was a lot to like — El Tri had not lost a match since the 2015 Copa America, they were playing in the United States, which made their matches akin to home games, and they had many players, including Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, coming off excellent club seasons.
After winning Group C of the Copa America Centenario, albeit with some red flags in games against Jamaica and Venezuela, Mexico faced Chile in what was expected to be one of the most memorable games of the tournament. It certainly was, but not for reasons many expected.
Behind four goals from Eduardo Vargas, Chile demolished Mexico 7-0 in front of a stunned crowd in Santa Clara, California. The defeat brought back memories of another favored team on “home” soil from just two years ago, Brazil, which lost 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals to eventual champion Germany.
Naturally Twitter had its say to the surprising defeat. This is just a sample of the reaction:
IIRC, if we get four red cards, the game is called and goes into the scorebook as a 3-0 loss. I think this is the best course of action.
— Maxi Rodriguez (@FutbolIntellect) June 19, 2016
6??? #MEXvCHI pic.twitter.com/3qCZWySItc
— FC Bayern US (@FCBayernUS) June 19, 2016
This #MEXvCHI game is starting to look familiar
— Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) June 19, 2016
"I CAN FIX THIS" pic.twitter.com/bdDDfMM6Xs
— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) June 19, 2016
xG map for Mexico - Chile.
Oh dear god pic.twitter.com/oO7Culw9EX
— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) June 19, 2016
Mexico we are still good. We are only down a touchdown. We can still come back and win this one. #MEXvCHI
— Tony (@tonythebighit) June 19, 2016
Bye Felicia. #MEXvCHI pic.twitter.com/1P1eZPZKoW
— Cobi Jones (@cobijones) June 19, 2016
To all my Brazil (World Cup 2014) and Mexico fans... You can find solidarity! pic.twitter.com/PcB5ZEjB3g
— Billy Depp (@ucla_007) June 19, 2016
The “Crying Jordan” was also well represented:
@ArnoldcommaJon pic.twitter.com/O96MAlQg6w
— Misael (@misael510) June 19, 2016
@ArnoldcommaJon @misael510 pic.twitter.com/ZqgS53URc9
— Justin Shiltz (@hoopslegend) June 19, 2016
@ArnoldcommaJon pic.twitter.com/IctlqANiYW
— Diego (@DieGo2SHAE) June 19, 2016
Can't be many 'El Tri' fans still left to see this carnage. Well, except for this guy. pic.twitter.com/ocVzxQ6mjq
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 19, 2016
The United States is playing Lionel Messi and world No. 1 Argentina in one of the Copa semifinals Tuesday, so U.S. Soccer could have played it safe and not tempted fate. However, the humbling of its top rival proved too tempting to resist:
We’re proud to represent @CONCACAF in the #CopaAmerica semifinals.
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 19, 2016
But at least Mexico’s coach (for now), Juan Carlos Osorio, took it in stride:
Q to Osorio: What needs to be worked on?
A: Everything.
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) June 19, 2016
..... - _Goal_