Mexico Soccer Coach Aguirre Hit in Head by Object Thrown from Stands in Honduras

 Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre signs his national anthem prior to a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals first leg soccer match against Honduras, at Francisco Morazan stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP)
Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre signs his national anthem prior to a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals first leg soccer match against Honduras, at Francisco Morazan stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP)
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Mexico Soccer Coach Aguirre Hit in Head by Object Thrown from Stands in Honduras

 Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre signs his national anthem prior to a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals first leg soccer match against Honduras, at Francisco Morazan stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP)
Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre signs his national anthem prior to a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals first leg soccer match against Honduras, at Francisco Morazan stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP)

Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre sustained a head injury after being hit by an object at the end of a Nations League quarterfinal match against Honduras on Friday.

At the end of the game that Mexico lost 2-0 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Aguirre walked up to greet Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda when he was struck by an object, apparently a beer can that cut him and caused his head to bleed.

“Nothing it is just soccer, the game was hard fought, and they played better,” Aguirre said at a media conference at the end of the match. “Regarding the other (the incident), there’s no need to mention it, I’m not one who complains, it is just soccer, nothing happened.”

The 65-year-old Aguirre is in this third stint at the helm of the Mexican national team. He took over last August, replacing Jaime Lozano, who was fired after a first-round elimination in Copa America.

“I’m sad for what happened at the end of the match, because he is a human being,” said Rueda. “I want to apologize to the Mexican people and to Aguirre, this cannot happen."

Mexico will host Honduras next Tuesday in the second leg of their quarterfinal series.



Marquinhos Asks Brazil Fans to Keep the Faith

Brazil's player Marquinhos gestures during a press conference following a training of the Brazil national football team at the Manuel Barradas stadium in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, on November 17, 2024, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match against Uruguay. (AFP)
Brazil's player Marquinhos gestures during a press conference following a training of the Brazil national football team at the Manuel Barradas stadium in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, on November 17, 2024, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match against Uruguay. (AFP)
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Marquinhos Asks Brazil Fans to Keep the Faith

Brazil's player Marquinhos gestures during a press conference following a training of the Brazil national football team at the Manuel Barradas stadium in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, on November 17, 2024, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match against Uruguay. (AFP)
Brazil's player Marquinhos gestures during a press conference following a training of the Brazil national football team at the Manuel Barradas stadium in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, on November 17, 2024, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match against Uruguay. (AFP)

Five-times World Cup winners Brazil have struggled to impress in South America's qualifiers for the 2026 tournament but defender Marquinhos had called on fans to stick by the side ahead of Tuesday's home game against Uruguay.

With a run of five wins, four losses and two draws, Brazil are fourth in the standings on 17 points, five behind leaders Argentina, with the top six qualifying automatically for the World Cup in North America. Uruguay are second on 19 points.

Brazil were held 1-1 in Venezuela on Thursday, with Vinicius Jr seeing a late penalty saved, and stand-in skipper Marquinhos said the players still took pride in playing for the shirt even when results did not go their way.

"Even though many things might cause people to lose hope in the national team, we ask that they never lose their passion for it," the 30-year-old told a news conference on Sunday.

Brazil, who were beaten by Uruguay in Montevideo last year, are in a transitional phase under head coach Dorival Junior and it will take some time to iron out the problems, he added.

"We will still make some mistakes because this transition is still very new, with all these changes of players and teams," said Marquinhos, who deputizes for regular captain Danilo.

"But we will make fewer and fewer mistakes and that makes us happy.

"We don't worry too much about the standings as long as we're in a comfortable position. We want to win to move up the table, make the work flow better, and gain confidence."

Brazil go into Tuesday's match without a host of top players with defender Eder Militao and forwards Neymar and Rodrygo among those sidelined due to injury.