Unión Sur Yaiza · Tercera División RFEF - Promotion - Play-offs · Defender · #0 · Spain · 26 yrs
Dublin-born defender’s display against Spain drew comparisons with Paul McGrath’s against Italy in 1994 but he says there is still room to improveRucksack on his back, Roberto “Pico” Lopes was standing on the corner of the narrow walkway way below the stands at the Atlanta stadium on Monday afternoon when the last of Spain’s players tried to make their way home. More than an hour after the final whistle had gone and they still couldn’t get past him, someone quipped. The centre-back from Crumlin reckoned he was “rusty” too here, yet he was at the heart of the greatest moment in Cape Verde’s history, one his coach claimed went far beyond football, and the kind of story only the World Cup can write.It had taken a little while and a word or two to realise it. In the final minute when Spain had their 11th and last corner, Lopes had looked at the clock and seen that it was close. He had heard the final whistle go, heard the roar as it was confirmed that Cape Verde had held on, undefeated on their tournament debut. He had seen the tears and celebration, family and friends in the stands, As he went down the tunnel he encountered Ray Houghton, scorer of the goal in New York when the Republic of Ireland defeated Italy 32 years ago, and embraced him. It was, he said, “lovely”, but what all this meant hadn’t entirely sunk in yet. Continue reading...
Despite once being regarded as one of Mexico's brightest prospects, Diego Lainez has been left out of the 2026 World Cup squad. While he is an undisputed starter for Tigres UANL, head coach Javier Aguirre has decided not to include him in his plans since January 2026. Following Javier Aguirre’s arrival, Mexico have managed to reestablish as one of the best national teams in CONCACAF. By relying on young players, they have built a roster that is well balanced between experience and youth. However, Diego Lainez has been left out of the 2026 World Cup roster, going from being one of the country’s brightest prospects to being overlooked by the head coach. Diego Lainez managed to regain consistency after joining Tigres UANL. Although he failed to shine in Europe, he became an undisputed starter for his club, excelling as a right winger. Across 49 matches, the 26-year-old star has recorded 6 goals and 9 assists, establishing as a fairly consistent player in the league. However, he has not returned to the Mexico national team since January 2026. Head coach Javier Aguirre has decided to radically change his attacking approach, leaving out Lainez, who failed to stand out within his roster. While he has enjoyed plenty of playing time at Tigres UANL, he has not been a notably productive player. In addition, he is not a player who particularly shines at a collective level, meaning his last appearance for the national team came in the friendly against Bolivia. Who will take Diego Lainez’s place on the Mexican national team? Throughout Mexico’s most recent matches, Javier Aguirre has favored players who provide a strong pressing presence. Because of this, Diego Lainez’s absence becomes quite understandable. In his place, the head coach has decided to rely on Roberto Alvarado, who shines for Chivas Guadalajara and contributes significantly to the collective play, helping to elevate the performances of his teammates. Diego Lainez of Mexico looks on. Ahead the 2026 World Cup, Aguirre could also rely on César Huerta as the backup option on the right wing. At just 25 years old, he has shone at Anderlecht and adapted impeccably to Mexico’s collective needs. However, both players need to step up and increase their productivity, as there does not appear to be an undisputed starter in that position. If Diego Lainez wants to regain his place in the Mexico under Javier Aguirre, he would need to improve his defensive work rate, which has been quite limited with the national side. In addition, he may need to recover his best form in terms of end product. At just 26 years old, he still has a chance of returning to the team in the future, but he would need to evolve his game to better fit the collective needs of the squad.
The biggest missing team at the 2026 World Cup is Italy after their failed qualifiers. In the list of champions, there are two teams with four titles, but one of them is missing the 2026 World Cup, as Italy has failed to qualify for the competition for the third straight time after another disappointing campaign. The reasons why such a traditional country is not taking part may be structural, but the format explanation is very simple. Italy finished behind Norway in their group, which forced them into a playoff for a spot. This time it was a 16-team round divided into four groups, with a semifinal and a final to determine the last places. Italy were able to beat Northern Ireland before losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties. Italy’s World Cup history For new fans, it may feel normal to see Italy out of the competition, as they have missed every edition since 2018. That sounds hard to believe for older fans who grew up watching excellence from them. Paolo Cannavaro was the captain of Italy in 2006 (Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Their four titles are second only to Brazil’s five and tied with Germany among the countries with the most trophies, which makes this absence even more painful given their history. They won titles early after the competition was created, lifting the trophy in 1934 and 1938. It took some time before they won it again, as their next title came in 1982 with a brilliant Paolo Rossi making his name unforgettable. The record in finals The tradition this country carries is clear from the six times they reached the final. In 1934, they beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 in extra time, and in 1938 they won 4-2 against Hungary. In 1970 came their most famous final, when they lost 4-0 to a legendary Brazil. In 1982, they finished a glorious run that included Brazil and Argentina with a 3-1 win against West Germany. In 1994, they faced Brazil again in a 0-0 draw that ended in a penalty shootout loss, with Roberto Baggio’s miss still remembered by many. In 2006, they beat France in a penalty shootout in a match remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on Marco Materazzi, which led to a red card.
Full preview of Mexico for the 2026 tournament, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. As the most prominent of the three co-hosts for the 2026 global tournament, Mexico faces immense pressure to outperform the United States and Canada. Currently ranked 15th globally, El Tri aims to erase the disappointment of their early exit in 2022 and reestablish themselves as the dominant force in North America. Following a successful 2025 Gold Cup campaign, the team has found renewed stability. This World Cup 2026 team preview explores the squad’s realistic chances on home soil. As one of the most closely watched international soccer teams 2026 has to offer, we will break down their defensive tactical setup, the leadership of their veteran coach, the depth of their roster, and their outlook in the group stage. Team profile CoachJavier AguirreCaptainEdson AlvarezNicknameEl Tri, El TricolorFIFA Ranking15thConfederationCONCACAFGroupGroup ABest Tournament ResultQuarter-finals (1970, 1986)Tournament Appearances18Last Appearance2022 (Group Stage) How Mexico play Under their current leadership, Mexico has transitioned away from a purely expansive attacking style toward a more pragmatic 4-3-3 Mexico formation. This system is specifically designed to handle the grueling physical demands of international tournament soccer. In possession, the team relies heavily on their central striker dropping deep to hold up play and distribute the ball to direct, pacey wingers. Defensively, El Tri prioritizes a solid structure over high-risk pressing. They showcased this defensive organization during the 2025 Gold Cup, allowing just 2.1 expected goals against (xGA) throughout the competition and keeping four clean sheets. The team often struggles to generate central creativity from the midfield, placing a heavy burden on wide players like Roberto Alvarado to cut inside and create scoring opportunities. Without a reliable link between the defense and the forward line, the attack can look disjointed against opponents utilizing a low defensive block. This pragmatic approach could make them tough to break down but might limit their scoring potential in tight knockout matches. Javier Aguirre: The coach behind Mexico Javier Aguirre is currently in his third stint managing the national team. Hired in mid-2024 to stabilize a struggling program, the Mexico coach immediately injected defensive discipline and a clear identity into the squad. The veteran manager brings extensive international experience, having previously guided El Tri through two successful qualification cycles. As a player, he earned 59 caps and represented his country during the 1986 tournament on home soil. Javier Aguirre, coach of Mexico (Hector Vivas/Getty Images) Aguirre is widely respected for his pragmatic approach and ability to organize teams quickly. Under his direction, Mexico reclaimed regional dominance by winning the 2025 Nations League and Gold Cup. His leadership will be crucial in helping the team navigate the immense pressure of playing in front of expectant home crowds. Key player: Raul Jimenez Raul Jimenez remains the most critical component of the Mexican attack. When discussing Mexico key players, the 34-year-old striker stands out, having earned 123 caps and scored 44 goals for his country, placing him third on their all-time scoring list. Entering the summer tournament, Jimenez is in excellent form. He netted 24 goals across all competitions over his last two club seasons and scored seven times in seven competitive international matches in 2025. His aerial ability, clinical finishing, and defensive work rate make him an ideal fit for the national team’s system. Tactically, Jimenez is the focal point. His ability to pull opposing center-backs out of position creates crucial space for wide attackers. If he were to suffer an injury, the team lacks another proven goalscorer with the same physical presence, which would severely hinder their atta
