“We continue to look for functionality”: Javier Aguirre

Javier Aguirre escaped the scoring unscathed in his 19th match in charge of the Mexican national team, which ended in a 0-0 draw against Japan . However, criticism was leveled at his lack of goalscoring and the stifling nature of his performance against the Asian team.

In this regard, he emphasized that he continues to strive for his team's optimal level: "I truly believe we're still working hard to get the team working. We already have a foundation and structure, and it's normal that we might not play well because the opponent makes you feel uncomfortable. I hope to take the positive aspects, which we have, and try not to make mistakes."

The game was held in Oakland, California, in front of more than 40,000 spectators, who booed almost in unison after the final whistle.

Mexico started its top players: Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and Johan Vásquez, while others like Santiago Giménez and Hirving "Chucky" Lozano came in as substitutes. However, their performance wasn't entirely convincing.

César Montes, for example, was sent off in a tackle that looked like Japan was headed for a one-on-one. Edson Álvarez, on the other hand, couldn't even finish the first half due to a muscle injury that required medical attention.

Javier Aguire's record in his third term as head coach of the Mexican national team is 12 wins, five draws, and three losses. He has scored 30 goals and conceded 14.

Against Japan, Mexico had slightly more possession, with 52%. But a discouraging fact was that there was only one clear shot on goal, which came until the 68th minute, thanks to a header from Érick Sánchez, which was well saved by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

" I'd like to win every game , obviously, but we weren't superior to our opponent today. We didn't deserve to win; I think they played well enough to avoid losing as well. It was a close and unspectacular match."

Japan also fielded a long list of stars, starting with Liverpool-based captain Wataru Endo. But the most notable were the forwards, such as Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), and Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord).

"I knew they were a very intense team; 90% of their roster plays in Europe, so they have different training levels. Their speed surprised us ," Aguirre emphasized, referring to the highest-ranked team in Asia (17th in the world).

The Basque player said he was unaware of the diagnosis of Edson Álvarez's injury and that these types of matches are necessary tests to avoid giving away playing time at the World Cup.

"We have to improve. We don't have to give away 45 minutes, not because of attitude, but because we don't know how to read the game. We lacked a bit of depth and daring, we were kind of stiff, but in the end, it's a preparation game. Everyone would have liked us to win, to impress, and to score, but it's not easy. The opponent matters, and they interrupted a lot."

Mexico's next match, to complete the September FIFA World Cup , will be on Tuesday against South Korea, which is fresh off a 2-0 victory over the United States in New York thanks to a standout performance from former Tottenham Hotspur player Son Heung-Min.

It will be Aguirre's 20th match in his third stint in charge of Mexico, which began in September 2024. The Basque national team coach previously led El Tri at the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, taking the team through difficult situations in qualifying rounds.