Mexico's Ricardo Marin (#19) celebrates after scoring against Belgium in the FIFA U-17 World Cup's match for third place on November 8, 2015, in Vina del Mar, Chile. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)

VIÑA DEL MAR, Chile – After winning the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and finishing as runner-up two years ago, falling 3-2 to Belgium in the match for third place on Sunday was not the way Mexico wanted to conclude its 2015 journey.

You get a sense of how high self-imposed expectations are when even a laudable fourth-place finish in a global event triggers a certain degree of internal disappointment.

Satisfaction is just not in the Tricolor’s vocabulary. Championship trophies best define the CONCACAF power at all levels. That’s what fuels its instinct for excellence.

“We did very well in the first round,” said Mexico head coach Mario Arteaga, recapping his team’s extended visit to Chile. “We progressed through each of the stages until we got into the semifinals and, unfortunately, there were two adverse results…the two most painful ones.

“The first (a 4-2 loss to Nigeria in the semifinals) kept us from playing for the title and the second from being in the top three positions that FIFA gives at the Under-17 World Cup. It doesn’t leave us happy at all.” 

Against the Belgians, Mexico rallied on two occasions from single-goal deficits only to fall victim to Dante Vanzeir’s second goal deep into second-half stoppage time.

“Third place was in play and because of that the Mexican team went out seeking the win, trying from the very first minutes to change the tempo and we got that,” Arteaga expressed. “They surprised us by going ahead. We pressed on. We continued to develop, trying to find the win at any cost. Twice we drew level. We continued with that momentum in attack and a lapse was what provoked the third goal scored on us. It’s a shame things did not go as we had intended.”

Regardless of its final positioning, Mexico accomplished much over a year that included a record-extending sixth CONCACAF title.

“I’m left with the joy of having managed a group of players with plenty of character, commitment, who -- until the last minute -- fought for the idea we came with from Mexico, which was a world championship,” finished Arteaga.

For this side, though, it is just the start of an adventure that brims with the promise of a trophy-filled future.