Mexico set to face Ecuador in Copa America knockout match

Mexico’s Johan Vásquez said the national team is in a “do or die” situation heading into Sunday’s Copa América group stage match against Ecuador, when a place in the round of 16 will be at stake.

In front of a crowd expected to be mostly pro-Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., the Genoa defender acknowledged the burden of having to pull out a victory in front of his fans to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

“Sometimes you have to know how to play with that pressure, too,” Vasquez told reporters at the team’s pregame news conference Saturday. “A few years ago, a teammate told me it was a privilege to have that type of pressure that not many people have, and that stuck with me.”

“For us (tomorrow)… in short, it’s do or die and knowing how to play with this pressure.”

Sitting alongside Vasquez, Mexico coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano agreed with his player’s sentiment.

“The pressure is a happy pressure. Fortunately because we are in the best position that a Mexican footballer, that a Mexican coach can be,” he said.

El Tri head into their final match of the group stage with three points after their first two matches of the tournament.

After starting the competition with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in their first match, Lozano and his men then disappointed expectations by losing 1-0 to Venezuela, their first defeat in official competition, on Wednesday.

With a growing number of worrying results since late 2023, and the recognition that a draw or defeat on Sunday would guarantee an early exit from the Copa América, Lozano finds himself in the hot seat.

“As a coach, you know you depend a lot on results,” Lozano said when asked if his job was on the line against Ecuador. “At the end of the day, I have to try to get the most performance possible from the players, obviously doing things well, and that’s why I’m calm.”

Mexico, two-time Copa finalists, will be looking to avoid a third group stage exit in their last four appearances at the tournament.

Tied on three points with Mexico, Ecuador are also chasing a place in the quarter-finals this weekend, but only need a draw to qualify thanks to their superior goal differential .