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          Miguel Herrera's Mexico career on the line as El Tri prepare for Jamaica

          • Andrea CanalesJul 26, 2015, 04:58 AM
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              Andrea Canales covers Liga MX and Mexico National Team for ESPNFC.com.

          In a classic case of "out of the frying pan and into the fire," Mexico coach Miguel "Piojo" Herrera might possibly have been saved from imminent firing in the worst way possible -- a controversial penalty call in the semifinal against Panama that has left segments of the Mexican fan base disgusted and dissatisfied -- and now there are calls for him to resign instead.

          There's no question that Herrera put his job at risk before the Gold Cup, first by stressing how vital winning the tournament was and speaking often of Mexico's obligation to claim the title.

          If the coach couldn't accomplish the most important objective of the squad for this year, then perhaps Herrera wasn't the best choice to lead them.

          But then Herrera compounded the pressure with his political tweets and a poor Copa America performance by Mexico's B squad -- adding to the criticism that the team's spotty play in the Gold Cup merely reinforced. It all came to a boil in the match against Panama, which left a bad taste for many fans. #PiojoLargate -- Leave, Piojo -- began to trend on Twitter.

          The venting on social media included a post that compared Piojo's Panama escape to that of Mexican drug lord Chapo Guzman:

          In the wake of the penalty against Panama, the hit to the overall image of CONCACAF was even worse than that to Herrera.

          Admitting "human error" didn't diminish the anger directed toward CONCACAF; complaints were vented under the hashtag "#CONCACRAP."

          Some believe that it doesn't benefit Mexico to win the Gold Cup tournament, but lose their sporting soul in the process. Some would like Herrera to pay the price for putting Mexico in a position in which the team needed a penalty call to win.

          El Tri fans have been disillusioned by Mexico's poor play throughout the Gold Cup. Injuries to key players aren't considered a sufficient excuse for a team as deep as Mexico. Carlos Vela has been misfiring and Hector Herrera is a shadow of his former self. Miguel Herrera hasn't seemed able to rally his players as he once did.

          Sure, there have been notable exceptions, with Andres Guardado giving heroic performances in multiple games. Mexico's advancement to Sunday's final, where the squad will face an inspired and energetic Jamaican team, may have merely delayed Herrera's ultimate fate. A loss will still be a disappointment, but a win over Jamaica won't be easy.

          On the other hand, Herrera's redemptive moment with Mexico is still possible. He is still a charismatic, engaging personality and many in the country would support him again if the team starts playing well. This final game of the Gold Cup tournament is the last chance for Mexico to perform in a way that restores the faith of supporters.

          The cynics are out in force, though, about Mexico's path to the title, and how the deck might already be stacked against Jamaica. If the Gold Cup final game is close against Jamaica, and a call in El Tri's favor is involved at any point, there's a good chance Mexico will face an endless wave of outrage.

          At the very least, such social media uproars also provide some amusement, if the fans blaming goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa's haircut for Mexico's struggles are anything to go by.

          It's doubtful, however, that even Ochoa's haircuts or heroics will be able to deflect the criticism that Miguel Herrera is now facing. Even lifting the Gold Cup trophy may leave many with questions about whether Herrera is best for the team.

          At the same time, a tournament victory should buy Herrera more time with Mexico -- if only because of the required playoff that would then loom against the United States for the Confederations Cup spot.

          If Herrera manages to pull off the double feat of winning the Gold Cup and then snatching away from the USA the opportunity to play in Russia's venues ahead of the World Cup, then his redemptive arc may indeed be complete. The coach has pulled off unlikely feats before, but this might be his biggest test yet.