Mexico’s new class of young stars is terrifying for USMNT fans
Tecatito Corona and Jurgen Damm are the just the latest new stars on El Tri’s squad.
And here’s Damm’s, just a few minutes later.
Tecatito is 22 and Damm is 23. Tecatito has gotten off to a blazing fast start since moving to FC Porto this summer and Damm recently turned down offers from big European clubs to be one of the star players at UANL Tigres in Liga MX. They came off the bench to fire El Tri to a 2-0 win away in San Pedro Sula, a place where they had not won in 50 years.
And they weren't the only young stars Mexico had on the pitch. Tecatito's Porto teammates, central midfielder Hector Herrera (age 25) and central defender Diego Reyes (age 23), had excellent games. The only player in his 30s that played in this game for Mexico was the goalkeeper, Alfredo Talavera.
So, caveat: we've been here before. Mexico destroyed everyone in the 2011 Gold Cup with a slew of fantastic young talent, then proceeded to squander it in World Cup qualifying to barely make it out of the Hex. Some combination of bad luck, bad coaching and a handful of these players just not being as good as advertised might happen. But right now, there's no reason to predict anything but Mexico competing at Copa America, comfortably topping the Hex and doing all of it in style.
