Mexico–the ghosts of the round of 16

Until the 87th minute of their Round of 16 game against the Netherlands, Mexico looked like they had finally laid to rest ‘the Ghosts of the Round of 16’, but Wesley Sneijder’s 88th minute equalizer and Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s injury-time match-winning penalty meant that it was deja vu time again!

Mexico’s loss to the Netherlands is their 6th successive ‘Round of 16’ defeat. Argentina has denied them twice in successive world cups (2006 and 2010).

At this rate, it looks like Mexico will have to bid for the 2026 World Cup if they’d like to get their ‘Round of 16’ history straightened out. They last won a ‘Round of 16’ match in 1986 when the World Cup was held in Mexico!