Don't let the 3-0 scoreline fool you. Mexico's win over Czechia was as pragmatic as they come — exactly how Javier Aguirre drew it up.
This wasn't a fiesta. It was a chess match played by a man who's been around the block so many times he knows every crack in the pavement. Aguirre, in his third stint as Mexico's manager, has never been about style points. He's about results. And right now, Mexico has three points and a goal difference that looks flattering to the untrained eye.
But the skeptics are already sharpening their knives.
The pragmatic approach
Mexico didn't dominate possession. They didn't create a dozen clear chances. They absorbed pressure, hit on the counter, and took their opportunities with clinical efficiency. It's the same formula Aguirre used to drag Mexico through World Cup qualifying: defend deep, stay compact, and hope your forwards can finish.
Against Czechia, it worked. The first goal came from a set piece — a corner that was nodded home by the center-back. The second was a counter-attack that caught the Czech defense flat-footed. The third was a penalty after a VAR review that had Czech players fuming.
It wasn't beautiful. But it was effective.
And that's the thing about Aguirre — he doesn't care about beauty. He's been managing since the 1990s, has coached in Mexico, Spain, Japan, and the Middle East. He's seen every system, every tactic, every hype train. He knows that in a World Cup, you don't get points for artistic impression.
"I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty," Aguirre said after the match. "The fans can criticize me all they want. I'm here to get results."
The doubters' case
But pragmatism has a shelf life. When Mexico faces a stronger opponent — say, Brazil in the round of 16 — that deep block can become a coffin. Against a team with elite individual quality, you can't just defend and hope. You need to take risks.
Aguirre's critics point to his track record in big tournaments. In 2002, he led Mexico to a Round of 16 exit. In 2010, same thing. His teams have a habit of looking solid until they run into a team that can break them down, at which point the game plan falls apart.
There's also the question of talent. Mexico's squad is not what it was a decade ago. The golden generation of Chicharito, Guardado, and Rafa Márquez has retired. The new wave — players like Santiago Giménez, Luis Chávez, and Edson Álvarez — are good, but not great. They lack the star power to win a game on their own.
So Aguirre's pragmatism might not be a choice. It might be a necessity.
The Czech challenge
Let's be honest: Czechia is not a powerhouse. They qualified through the UEFA playoffs after a mediocre campaign. Their best player, Patrik Schick, is past his prime. Their midfield lacks creativity. They're a team that relies on organization and set pieces — exactly the kind of opponent Aguirre's Mexico can handle.
The real test comes against South Korea and Portugal. Those are games where Mexico will need to show more than defensive solidity. They'll need to create chances, hold the ball, and impose themselves.
If they can't, the 3-0 win over Czechia will be remembered as a mirage.
What the win means
For now, Mexico sits atop Group H with three points and a clean sheet. That's all that matters in the short term. Aguirre has bought himself some goodwill — at least until the next match.
The Mexican media, never kind to their national team managers, have been cautiously optimistic. "Aguirre's plan works, but can it last?" read one headline. Another asked: "Style or substance?"
The answer, for now, is substance. But substance without style can only take you so far. In a World Cup, eventually you meet a team that can punch back. And when that happens, the question isn't whether Aguirre's pragmatism works — it's whether it's enough.
We'll find out soon enough. South Korea awaits.
