Amid speculation surrounding Sven-Goran Eriksson’s position as the Mexican national team, Mexico Football Federation officials said that support for the Swede has not wavered.
FMF officials held a press conference a day after Mexico lost to the United States 2-0 in their opening World Cup qualifying match.
“We fully stand behind Eriksson because our objective is to reach the World Cup. And we will be at the World Cup,” FMF President Justino Compean. “There are 30 points at stake and we missed out on the first three. It pains us to lose just as much as it pains… the players, the fans, our families. There is no justifying this defeat.”
FMF officials said they hope the team will respond to their predicament in the forthcoming qualifier against Costa Rica.
“We want to win to have a better image,” Compean said. “The national team’s image diminishes when we don’t give everything we have on the field. But when we play like we are capable of and put forth our maximum effort, that does not happen.
“We have to win. We are all aware of this, and Eriksson knows that while we don’t win, we have not accomplished anything,” Compean said. “If we don’t win, there will be no justification for anything, explanations possibly but no justifying our losses.”
Meanwhile, FMF General Secretary Decio de Maria also tried to allay fears upon arriving in Mexico City.
“One bad result should not be catastrophic,” de Maria said. “We all wanted to win and while we didn’t that does not mean we are not going to the World Cup. There are nine games left, 27 points at stake and to formulate conclusions after one game is hazardous.”
