Being Mexican in London pubs was synonymous with applause, hugs and even beer invitations. The British celebrated everyone who wore a Mexican shirt or, at least, had the face of being Mexican. The Under 23 team had just been Olympic soccer champion. They had defeated mighty Brazil at hallowed Wembley, the cathedral of British football.
Ten years have passed since Mexico enjoyed the glory of a gold medal, the last time the Mexican National Anthem was heard on an Olympic Games podium, the most sublime moment in the unremarkable international history of tricolor soccer.
Yes, it was Brazil. The five-time champions in their attempt to win the only soccer tournament they had not won. But there was the hope of eleven players led by Alfredo Tena and backed by a faithful Aztec fans who believed in the impossible.
From the Metro, canarinha fans were the majority. They sang, they chanted the memories of Pelé and they felt that August 11, 2012 would finally be the day they would win their first Olympic gold. They came from five wins in five games played, with three goals scored in each of their wins. They were the wide favourites.
But that did not prevent a few thousand tricolor fans from managing to get their tickets. There were many British people who bought their tickets in advance because at the beginning of the competition they thought that their team would reach the final of their favorite sport and that they would assert their locality as hosts of the Olympic tournament.
absolute euphoria
When Oribe Peralta scored the first goal at the start of the game, I joined the thousands of fans in a jump of joy despite being in the press box with some Brazilian journalists. He had lost his composure but, damn it, Mexico’s goal at Wembley! And against Brazil!
Then came a second goal from Peralta and hope grew. By that time of the match, the Londoners had caught the euphoria of the Mexicans. They celebrated in the saves of Jesús Corona or the auctions of Marco Fabián and Javier Aquino. Each center of the South Americans held their breath, while the players murmured “jiricocho, jiricocho”, so that the ball would not be finished off by the Brazilians.
Hulk added drama to the final with his score, but finally the referee Mark Clattenburg blew the whistle for the end of the match and with it the final 2-1 was finalized. Absolute euphoria. So also some tears to see the flag at the top of the podium and the proud players with their golden medals.
Mexico for the first and only time appeared in the news on English television stations. London bars became hubs for Mexican festivities with music in Spanish and liters of tequila appearing out of nowhere.
The names of the 18 soccer players rest eternally on the wall of medalists in the Mexican Olympic Committee and also in the history of national soccer as the greatest success achieved (although some dispute the conquest of the 1999 Confederations Cup).
A memory of the day when being Mexican in London represented a feeling of pride that words are not enough to describe.
–
