Mexico head coach Diego Cocca reacts to potential 2023 Gold Cup boycott and roster unrest
Two Tri players could walk out on Cocca and the team, while others are also unhappy after the recent visit to the United States.
The Mexican national team are not having a great time of things either on or off the field. After being convincingly beaten by the USMNT in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Nations League, it has been reported that two members of the roster are seriously considering walking out on El Tri before the Gold Cup gets underway. Under-fire head coach Diego Cocca has acted in an attempt to calm the waters.
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According to US-based Spanish language broadcaster TUDN, Cocca “locked himself in” with his entire roster on Friday to have clear-the-air talks in private. There have been several suggestions that some players have been unhappy with the organisation of their trip to Las Vegas to play in the Nations League Finals, with the team’s hotel an hour away from Allegiant Stadium and 40 minutes from their training base.
🚨🇲🇽After the loss against USA, some players from the Mexican National Team are threatening to LEAVE after the game against Panama due to problems with the manager, Diego Cocca.
— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) June 16, 2023
(@GibranAraige) pic.twitter.com/KRYeNWPf11
The identities of the two players who could quit the camp on Monday, after the third place playoff against Panama and before the Gold Cup, haven’t been revealed. However, Cocca has spoken to both, who feel as if they haven’t been given an opportunity by the Argentine and have given ‘personal reasons’ as another excuse for potentially skipping the tournament in the United States.
Mexico’s upcoming fixture schedule
- Panama vs. Mexico | 18 June | Concacaf Nations League third-place playoff
- Mexico vs. Honduras | 25 June | Gold Cup group stage
- Haiti vs. Mexico | 29 June | Gold Cup group stage
- Mexico vs Qatar | 2 July | Gold Cup group stage