Mexico was done in once again in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup, but the manner of their ouster has them in a fighting mood. Netherlands star Arjen Robben went down late in the match after a Rafael Marquez challenge and drew a penalty shot that proved to be the winning goal.
Afterward, Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, who has become an international star because of how animated he is during matches, didn’t mince words.
"It seems to me that the reason we were eliminated was the man with the whistle. Although their first goal was good and came from a mistake on our part, the game was heading to extra time,” Herrera said.
“But if the referee invents a penalty of that size, you leave the World Cup after circumstances not created by you. And Robben dived three times for penalties that didn't exist. He should have been cautioned. If you do that to the guy who tries to cheat, then he can't cheat again."
Marquez was extremely upset following the match as well, and took his own opportunity to light into the official. "It was not a penalty," Marquez said. "I did not touch him. My foot came down on the ground, not on him. It was he who made contact with me. The referee thought I had made contact with him and whistled for the penalty."
Robben, unsurprisingly, disagreed with the assessment of the Mexicans. What may infuriate the Mexican team and their fans even more was that Robben apologized for flopping earlier on. "I have to apologize," Robben said. "In the first half I took a dive. The one at the end was a penalty."
Robben is tied with several others for third in terms of goals scored in the World Cup (3), and is drawing 3.3 fouls per match.
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