
Charlyn Corral, one of Mexico’s best young players at age 24, says she is retiring from the national team after being left off Mexico’s CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying roster.
Corral spoke out after Mexico’s group-stage exit at the 2015 World Cup, stating that coach Leo Cuellar — who has been in charge since 1998 — needed to step down from his job. Corral was subsequently left off the Pan Am Games roster in July. Cuellar soon thereafter indicated that he could soon step down, but told The Equalizer in September that he those words were taken out of context.
Cuellar spoke out against her exclusion from the team on Thursday:
“I understand that no player is essential in a national selection and to play in Europe does not guarantee me a place, but the lack of transparency and arguments based on lies makes me come to the conclusion that I’m not welcome in selection,” Corral said in a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday. She did indicate that she would retire from the “current” national team, leaving the door open should leadership change.
Corral plays for Levante in Spain. Atletico Madrid forward Kenti Robles was also left off the latest Mexico roster, as were forward Stephany Mayor and defender Bianca Sierra.
Cuellar’s full roster for Olympic qualifying, which includes group games against USA, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico:
https://twitter.com/miseleccionmx/status/694967516175552513/photo/1
Questions continue to surround this Mexico program, which faces like a longshot to make the Olympics or to even get out of the group. Costa Rica has shown more uptick in the past two years — at the 2015 World Cup and including finishing second at CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, ahead of a Mexico team which needed extra time to beat Trinidad and Tobago for the third and final automatic CONCACAF berth to the Women’s World Cup. The goal-scorer for Mexico in extra time that day? Corral, who had a breakout tournament.
Mexico goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar, who did not make the qualifying roster, had several thoughts on the situation. A few stand out:
The biggest concern is the noticeable stagnation that we're going through as a NT, while we watch women's football evolve worldwide 4/4
— Pamela Tajonar (@ta_pam) February 4, 2016
How much longer do we need to settle with little sparks of success?? Having in our hands the means to be ?…
— Pamela Tajonar (@ta_pam) February 4, 2016
Mexico has notably gone backwards since its historic upset of the United States in World Cup qualifying in October 2010, which remains as one of the greatest upsets in women’s soccer history.
Mexico has no plans to continue funding player salaries for players in the National Women’s Soccer League after joining the league as a founding federation ahead of the 2013 inaugural season. No Mexico national team players took part in the NWSL in 2015.
