Venezuela's fairytale run in the Copa America continued with a wonderful goal from Jose Velazquez.
The No. 77-ranked team on the world already saw away Uruguay in stunning fashion, and on Monday night, they took the lead against Mexico through an acrobatic finish.
Velazquez sent the Venezuelan support wild with a scissor kick that beat Jose Corona.
Venezuela Players Threaten to Quit World Cup 2018 Qualifying
Dec 1, 2015
Venezuela's players pose for pictures before their Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup South American Qualifiers football match against Brazil, at the Estadio Castelao stadium in Fortaleza, Brazil, on October 13, 2015. (L-R) Jose Rondon,Roberto Rosales, Ronald Vargas, Alejandro Guerra, Gabriel Cichero, Christian Santos, Luis Seijas, Arquimedes Figuera, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Alain Baroja and Tomas Rincon. AFP PHOTO / EVARISTO SA (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)
Venezuela's national team have threatened to stop representing their country in World Cup 2018 qualifying and have demanded the removal of the "coaching staff and directors" from their football federation.
EFE reported players reacted angrily to claims by Venezuelan Football Federation head Laureano Gonzalez that they tried to force the removal of coach Noel Sanvicente, and they have issued a statement via social media demanding reform in the governing body.
A total of 15 players tweeted the unilateral stance, according to Sports Illustrated, and they declared their intention to not feature for Venezuela while certain figures were still involved with the organisation.
Peru's forward Claudio Pizarro (C) is marked by Venezuela's Tomas Rincon (L) and Luis Seijas during their 2015 Copa America football championship match, in Valparaiso, Chile, on June 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT (Photo credit should rea
Gonzalez said, per EFE: "A movement came together there (inside the team) to throw out the coach, who is our winningest national coach." The players responded, saying: "[Those] declarations are totally false and defamatory of our honor and reputation."
The country are in the middle of the qualification process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but they have been defeated in their four matches so far, losing to Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Ecuador, according to Soccerway.com.
Senior players to voice their discontentment included Salomon Rondon of West Bromwich Albion, Tomas Rincon, Josef Martinez and Oswaldo Vizcarrondo.
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: In this image released on August 10, 2015, Jose Salomon Rondon poses with the flag of Venezuela as he is unveiled by West Bromwich Albion at West Bromwich Albion Training Ground on August 6, 2015 in West Bromwich, Engl
Middlesbroughdefender Fernando Amorebieta recently quit the national team, and he "denounced" the coaching staff and the directors in an open letter explaining his retirement, per EFE.
The players' statement on Twitter also proclaimed, as reported by SI: “As long as the Venezuelan Football Federation is commanded by the current directors...(the) dream of going to a soccer World Cup is threatened.”
The nation is the only CONMEBOL side to have never qualified for the World Cup, and it looks doubtful their current performances on the pitch will get them closer to appearing in Russia.
The team are due to face Peru in March for their next qualification game, giving the players plenty of time to achieve a resolution with the football federation.
The final instalment of our look at the participating nations of the 2015 Copa America sees us take in Venezuela, one of 2011’s semi-finalists who until then had had a fairly disappointing history in the tournament...
