Ochoa: “We will leave with our heads held high”

Guillermo Ochoagoalkeeper of the Mexican team, said that he is leaving here world “sad, but proud and held high.”

ochoa He was one of several Mexican soccer players who stopped in the mixed zone to speak to the media after the dramatic group stage elimination, the first of eight appearances, after losing. Saudi Arabia.

“Obviously I’m sad, but I’m proud of my teammates, of the group. We left with our heads held high. I told them to be proud of what they’ve done, keep their heads up, that in the beginning not everyone will experience a World Cup. We are lucky and privileged”, explained the goalkeeper, who lived in his fifth World Cup here.

“Many things can happen in football. Today’s game is well played and well contested, the one in Poland is the same and the other in Argentina… Aren’t we unlucky? I will tell you that luck does not play of a paper, but what troubled us was the secondary purpose of Poland a Arabian and the second that made us Argentina. Little details that change your course,” he added.

“That’s what we talked about before the game, that no matter what happens we will give everything and fight until the end for our country, for Mexico. In my opinion, I feel that the team competes in every game. In the match against Poland we competed very well, match against Argentina… I know what a lot of people say about the strategy, but the strategy is good, because if we score 0-0 they will tell us that it was very good, and a genius changed the script for us, Messi’s genius, on top of that. Today he gave himself, ran, scored, I feel we scored more goals. We didn’t play well, you’re offside, and it’s a shame. The team is broken.”

As for Mexico’s progress as a team, with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Ochoa said it shouldn’t be judged by one result.

“It would be a mistake to say that the cycle is over and start from scratch. We shouldn’t do it. There are young people who got experience, who played in their first World Cup, we have to maintain and guide them to the next one, which won’t be easy. They’re not leaving to play the playoffs, the golden cup. It will be difficult. I hope you can play Asian CupThe America Cup. Just playing with friends won’t benefit us.”

“We thank the fans, because we want to give them joy. Until now they only celebrated the penalty I saved. We want them to celebrate a goal, because a goal in a World Cup for your country is the best thing there. .”