In a spirited display of confidence, Mexico coach Jimmy Lozano assured fans that his team will overcome their recent setback and secure a spot in the Copa América knockout stage. Despite a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Venezuela, Lozano expressed unwavering belief in his squad's ability to bounce back.

The match, held at Inglewood, California's SoFi Stadium, saw Venezuela claim their first-ever victory over Mexico in an official competition. The defeat also marked Mexico's fourth consecutive loss to a Conmebol opponent in a non-friendly match. However, Lozano brushed off these statistics, emphasizing the team's resilience and determination.

"We have 90 minutes [left], and no one is getting off this ship," declared Lozano, undeterred by the result. "We're going to make it, of that I'm sure."

Acknowledging the significance of their final group stage match against Ecuador on Sunday, Lozano stressed the importance of securing a victory to confirm their place in the knockout round. As it stands, Mexico currently sits in third place in Group B, level on three points with Ecuador.

Despite a late opportunity to equalize the scoreline with a penalty, Mexico was unable to capitalize as Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo made a crucial save off a strike by Orbelín Pineda. Post-match, Lozano addressed the penalty incident, stating that there is no designated penalty-taker within the team.

"I believe that the player who has the confidence to shoot it [takes the penalties]. We have very good shooters in the national team," explained Lozano. "I'm not so much about choosing one...they [the players] come to an agreement, whoever is sure that they can do it."

Adding to Mexico's concerns, captain César Montes suffered an injury during the match, echoing the earlier injury to Edson Álvarez in the team's debut. Lozano expressed uncertainty regarding Montes' availability for future games, stating, "today we don't know if we'll have him in the next game."

Meanwhile, Álvarez, despite being ruled out for the rest of the tournament, showed his dedication by remaining with the team, offering support to his teammates from the sidelines.

Mexico's final group stage clash against Ecuador will take place at Glendale, Arizona's State Farm Stadium. With their tournament hopes hanging in the balance, the Mexican team now faces a crucial test against a strong Ecuadorian side to secure their advancement to the Copa América knockout round.