Mexico’s World Cup dreams were crushed at the first hurdle in Qatar as they were narrowly eliminated in the group stage.

A third placed finish was what I’d predicted for them heading into the tournament, however they couldn’t have been much closer to eclipsing that expectation, going home due to a goal difference worse than Poland’s by just one.

Whilst Mexico beat the one side they were perhaps expected to in Saudi Arabia, and avoided any embarrassing scoreline against finalists Argentina, it was a relatively timid showing which lacked firepower.

Ochoa was once again on hand to deliver in a major international tournament and likely cemented his status as a Mexican World Cup hero, but Mexico failed to score a single goal until their final day victory. This was a side clearly feeling the absence of the attacking flair they had possessed in previous years through Vela, Chicharito and Corona, along with Raul Jimenez only fit enough for substitute appearance.

With Ochoa, Guardado and Herrera likely to have played their last World Cup competitions, and possibly Jimenez too who will be 35 by the time the 2026 tournament begins, Qatar 2022 represents the end of an era in Mexican football.

It is now up to the talented young players such as Edson Alvarez, Alexis Vega, and possibly Arsenal’s Marcelo Flores should he commit to El Tri, to turn Mexico back into a side which can bring fear to the top sides in international tournaments.

It is easy to view this tournament as the end of a chapter, but perhaps better to view it as the tournament which made way for a new one.