Mexico are already on the quest for their 12th title in the Gold Cup 2021. The current defending champions had their debut in the tournament this week with a disappointing goalless draw against Trinidad and Tobago in Texas. However, the result wasn’t the worst part of their opening night as the team lost one of their best players: Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano.
El Tri will have to get through the rest of the tournament without the Napoli player, who will be out of the pitch for 4-6 weeks. Nevertheless, Mexico shouldn’t have troubles to get through the knockout stages. But head coach Tata Martino would have to decide who will replace Hirving Lozano.
When Lozano left the pitch against Trinidad and Tobago, he was replaced by LA Galaxy’s Efraín Álvarez. However, Martino also can try with Orbelín Pineda, Jesús Gallardo o Erick Sánchez in the starting eleven. Rogelio Funes Mori and Jesús Corona, however, are safe in the lineup.
Why isn’t Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano playing for Mexico in the Gold Cup 2021?
Ten minutes into the first half, Lozano and the goalkeeper of Trinidad and Tobago, Marvin Phillip, collided. The Napoli player suffered a blow to the head and ended up unconscious and bleeding on the pitch.
Later, the Mexican federation said that he was stable and that he had a “reconstruction of the wound in his left eyebrow” after the cut. He also suffered an hyperextension of the neck and will be out for 4-6 weeks.
He also had to undergo neurological evaluation but luckily he doesn’t present other problems. The Napoli forward post a video on Twitter saying to his fans: “Thank you all for your kind messages. Thank God I’m okay”.
