"The number nine has to score goals," Chaco Giménez said after Mexico's 0-3 defeat to USA at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. The pressure on Santiago Giménez came from the scoreline, the missed chances and the reaction around him. Mexico lost 0-3 to the USA at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
Missed chances and the boos
He missed a shot after a back pass from Alvarado after just three minutes, then had the clearest chance to equalize shortly before half-time when Luis Romo crossed into the area, but shot wide with the goal open. Giménez was taken off in the 72nd minute and booed by the crowd.
Chaco went further in comments to A Bola, saying: "Santiago has no goals for the national team. He scores everywhere except for the national team. And the [position] nine has to score goals, even more so him, because he has few, so he is being criticized". The point is not subtle. This was a night where the missed chances became the story, and the crowd made that clear when he left the pitch.
Márquez backs his striker
Rafael Márquez took his first defeat in charge of the Mexican national team in his third game, but he stayed with his striker publicly. "I think Santi needs to get more minutes, obviously, to be in the best shape," he said, in comments translated from Portuguese to A Bola. "We trust him and hopefully he can have more opportunities so that he can perhaps have a better game rhythm."
That backing fits the wider numbers around Giménez. He has 4 appearances for Mexico in the 2026 competition set, and for FC Porto he has 1 league goal this season. He also posted a 7.71 rating in one recent club appearance, which is another reason this Mexico performance should be read as a bad international night rather than a simple collapse in all settings. The issue now is whether Mexico keep leaning on him against the USA again after a result like this.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
