Leipzig, Germany – At Saturday’s final whistle, Ricardo La Volpe stood on the sideline, his hands on his hips, staring off into the warm German night. Looking rumpled in his ill-fitting suit, his salty hair a mess and his face aglow with sweat, the chain-smoking, goateed La Volpe looked less like a matador than a tragic figure in some Mexican love story.
This is a love affair 100 million Mexican people have with their soccer team. When 11 players were taken off on their shields after taking mighty Argentina into overtime before losing 2-1, tears flowed from Yucatan to midfield here at legendary Zentralstadion.
Whether this ends La Volpe’s volatile 3 1/2-year stint is no longer certain. In between wars with the media, he has threatened to quit many times. It was reported he and Mexico’s football association had mutually agreed he would step down when his contract ended after the World Cup. But something in the German air, maybe the hint of hope that El Tricolor isn’t far away made La Volpe decide he is happy to lead Mexico.
“I would like to stay and let this process continue,” he said. “I would like to see the football ideas we had continue. I think now everyone in the world knows that Mexico plays good football. I think that’s obvious to everyone.”
As American soccer awaits the fate of its national coach, its southern neighbor and fellow big bully of the CONCACAF region is doing the same. The difference is U.S. coach Bruce Arena, like La Volpe 54, may walk away on his own, particularly if he doesn’t see changes in U.S. Soccer.
La Volpe says it won’t be his call. It will be up to the owners and presidents of Mexico’s clubs, and that could be dicey. Hugo Sanchez, coach of Mexico’s Pumas, has stabbed La Volpe in the back so many times in the press, La Volpe needs a cut man to read the newspaper.
Sanchez wants the job and doesn’t like the way La Volpe has coached it. It’s a simple formula, really. As La Volpe said, “I think they will have to assess what we have done in these past 3 1/2 years.”
Once that review has been compiled, bet on one word appearing above La Volpe’s name: inconsistent. Since taking over from the three-man rotation Mexico used to self-destruct in the 2002 World Cup, La Volpe was unpopular.
Born in Argentina, he was a backup goalkeeper on Argentina’s 1978 World Cup champion. But in Mexico, a winning pedigree isn’t as important as blood. As one of the estimated 65,000 Mexican fans in Germany said after a mistake-prone 2-1 loss to Portugal, “He doesn’t have a Mexican heart.”
His coaching résumé didn’t inspire, either. Since settling in Mexico 20 years ago, he has coached eight teams over 15 seasons in Mexico’s La Primera league. He has one title.
However, his open, attacking football is attractive and he has brought in fresh blood while flushing out the old, however undiplomatically he did it. Shining in Germany were players such as Jose Fonseca, 25, Luis Perez, 25, and Carlos Salcido, 26. Teenage defender Andres Guardado is a rising international star.
La Volpe started as if he could become head of the Mexican nation and not just the soccer team. In 2002 Mexico hosted and won the CONCACAF Gold Cup, beating Brazil along the way. But critics pointed out Brazil sent up its junior varsity team, and then Mexico got bounced from the second round of the 2004 Olympics. In the 2004 Copa America, Mexico beat Argentina but then got smoked 4-0 by Brazil.
Then things started pointing in La Volpe’s favor. Mexico went to Germany for the Confederations Cup and beat a Brazil team at full strength. It breezed through World Cup qualifying, going 7-2-1 to edge the U.S. for first in CONCACAF on goal difference and earn a favorable seed.
But until Saturday, Germany was a disaster. Mexico had to rally in the second half to beat Iran 3-1, and tied Cup-newcomer Angola 0-0, before losing to a Portugal team resting five starters.
In La Volpe’s favor, his halftime substitutions lifted Mexico over Iran and a roster shakeup nearly beat Argentina.
“We played Argentina on equal terms, and I think that’s something that has to be considered,” La Volpe said. “That’s what’s important. This process has to continue.”
Mexico is still a team that never has reached a World Cup semifinal. La Volpe is the longest-tenured national coach in its history. Maybe the Argentina game proved he and Mexico belong. He certainly convinced many fans.
As teary-eyed construction worker Juan Chavez told Reuters in Mexico City, “They played like heroes.”
Staff writer John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
