MEXICO CITY, Oct 18 — Mexico coach Victor Manuel Vucetich is set to lose his job following the World Cup loss to Costa Rica at the weekend.

The 2-1 defeat rounded off a poor qualifying campaign in the North and Central America zone which saw the Mexicans finish fourth and heading for a perilous playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand for a place in next year’s finals in Brazil.

“I have been given plenty indications (of his sacking) even although there is nothing official yet,” Vucetich told the ESPNDeportes.com website following a day of speculation in Mexico.

The 58-year-old Vucetich only took over as Mexico coach in September after the damaging loss to the United States, replacing Jose Manuel de la Torre.

That left him with two qualifying matches to secure a World Cup berth for Mexico and he started well with a 2-1 home win over Panama.

But the loss to Costa Rica was a huge setback and Mexican World Cup hopes were left hanging by a thread before two late goals gave the United States a win over Panama thus opening the door of the playoffs.

According to the Mexican press, his likely successor will be Miguel Herrera, currently coach of Mexican champions Club America.

He would be the fourth national coach of Mexico in less than two years and his goal would be to see his side through the two-leg playoff with New Zealand which will take place on Nov 13 or 14 and 20. — AFP