Mexico's national football team manager, Javier Aguirre, played a pivotal role in ensuring their World Cup round of 16 match against England retained its original kickoff time. Despite discussions between FIFA, the Mexican Football Federation, and the Football Association about potentially moving the match forward by six hours due to thunderstorm concerns, Aguirre firmly voiced his disapproval. He argued that such a last-minute change would severely impact the team's meticulously planned preparations, ultimately leading to the decision to keep the game at its scheduled 8 p.m. ET start.
The debate surrounding the match schedule for the highly anticipated encounter at Estadio Azteca unfolded on Friday. FIFA and the involved football federations considered adjusting the kickoff time amidst forecasts of inclement weather. However, when consulted, El Tri's manager, Javier Aguirre, or "El Vasco" as he's known, was resolute in his opposition to any alterations.
During a press conference held on Saturday afternoon, Aguirre elaborated on his brief yet impactful intervention. He simply stated, "They told me about the schedule change and I said I didn't agree. That's all I did." His stance highlighted the disruption a sudden six-hour shift would cause to both teams' established routines and strategic planning, emphasizing that such a change would be a significant setback for the athletes and coaching staff.
Aguirre further articulated his concerns in an interview with Radio Formula on Friday, describing the proposed time change as "a kick in the stomach." He stressed that it would necessitate a complete overhaul of their preparations, effectively eliminating six hours from their meticulously scheduled activities. His pragmatic viewpoint ultimately prevailed, ensuring that the critical match proceeded as initially planned, much to the relief of the Mexican squad.
This incident follows a previous delay for Mexico's round of 32 match against Ecuador, which was pushed back by an hour due to lightning. Despite these pre-match uncertainties, Aguirre conveyed his team's unwavering resolve. He asserted his practical and natural approach to such situations, stating, "I am how I am. I'm very practical, very natural. I took it naturally. It was something natural, not planned, not looking for ulterior motives. Plenty of cases were resolved favorably. It didn't permeate the group; the group is strong, with desire to play a great game tomorrow." His comments underscore the team's focus and determination to deliver a strong performance in what is considered a landmark game for Mexican national football.
