Mexico coach Diego Cocca fired after crushing loss to U.S., replaced by Jaime Lozano

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Diego Cocca was fired as coach of Mexico’s nationwide crew on Monday, 4 days after a 3-0 loss to the United States in a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal.

The federation stated Jaime Lozano will take over the nationwide crew. Lozano coached under-23 crew to a bronze medal on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Cocca was employed in February and led El Tri to 3 wins, a loss and three attracts. El Tri had not misplaced to the U.S. by three objectives in 23 years.

“You can lose to the United States, because that’s soccer,” Mexican Football Federation President Juan Carlos Rodríguez. “What is unacceptable is the way that victory was ruled out from the start due to logistical decisions that split the group.”

Several Mexican gamers had complained concerning the lengthy rides to observe classes previous the match in Las Vegas.

Cocca took over from Gerardo Martino after Mexico was eradicated from the World Cup within the first spherical final fall, ending a streak of seven straight appearances — and exits — within the spherical of 16.

Mexico rebounded to defeat Panama 1-0 on Sunday’s third-place match, which drew a crowd of 35,000 to a roughly half-full Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

El Tri opens the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, in opposition to Honduras on Sunday in Houston, then play Haiti 4 days later at Glendale, Arizona, earlier than closing the group stage in opposition to invited visitor Qatar on July 2 at Santa Clara, California.