SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It was a loss that caught nearly everyone off guard, and it still causes El Tri supporters to shudder at its mention. Two summers ago, in front of a packed house at Levi’s Stadium, most wearing the green, red, and white of Mexico, their beloved national team was demolished 7-0 by Chile in a highly anticipated 2016 Copa América Centenario quarterfinal.
Head coach Juan Carlos Osorio strode the sideline that day for Mexico, and despite the lopsided loss, kept his job at the helm of a team that a year later would bounce back to top its CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group and book its ticket to Russia.