US - Mexico Columbus, Ohio Feb. 11, 2009 6:00 PM ESPN2HD, Univision The last round of qualifying for the World Cup in the CONCACAF region kicks off for the United States February 11 against arch rival Mexico. I'm flying out a week from today to catch the game in person. Hopefully the US can start out the final round with 3 points. EDIT: Here's a video that makes it look like it's been an even rivalry even though we all know that's not the case. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qshjeTdHxcs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qshjeTdHxcs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Thanks for the heads up. Mexico are flying out on the 7th to start practicing in Columbus, and it will be around 37° on Saturday. It will be even lower at 33° on Wednesday. Playing up north is ALWAYS a nightmare for any country south of the Rio Grande. So why even post it, if you don't agree? Y'all win here, (although in friendlies we can't really talk because all the games have been played HERE) we win at home. Why aren't they even? Fine, so y'all won in the WC. Excellent. We'll see.
Swoly, what are your thoughts on Mexico's status in qualifying? Is the last round going to be a wake up call or is Sven just not the right coach?
You asked nicely. I don't see why I shouldn't discuss this now: The players have not adjusted to his style of playing, and it's only been a few games to figure it out. Can you believe it's been only 8 games, and they've won only 4? I mean, that's bull, and if it were any other coach, they'd have been gone. Head cut. Sas! Out of here. The worse thing is that if the Mexican Federation decides to "fire" Eriksson, they'd have to pay out the remaining moola (a lot, mind you, at 4.5 million Euro for 2 years) of his contract. But, with the 6-team final round left, they'd have no choice but to go with him, eat the contract money to pay him to remain, unless he quits. There's also talk about some players not wanting to listen to the new "style" and deciding to play on their own. Among these are some prima donna a-holes who believe they are too good to be listening to someone with no ties to their home country. The MFF has to wait it out. Tough case.
Go Mexico!!! But Mexico is not going with a lot of starters because some injuries, and some suspensions, so I dont know, I hope that Mexico can win, but for this game, but Im not sure, especiallt being in US. when they come here, thats another story.
That's interesting. I hadn't heard a lot of that. Is there still the outcry amongst the fan base about using naturalized players or was that more of a Hugo Sanchez issue? I'm cautiously optimistic about this game. I'm confident the US has a better team due to the issues you mentioned and (as david_rocket mentioned) the fact that some of your starters won't be playing, especially Guardado. The problem is I hope the US can still get up for the game because if they go into it expecting a win I can definitely see us letting this one slip away and starting off the Hex losing at home.
Yep, halfbreed, especially the media are against Sven, for not knowing a lot of the mexican soccer, for putting more naturalized players, for not being mexican, for calling other players, etc. GO MEXICO!!!
Is this even a real game anymore ? I think of it as a scrimmage with a south of the border scrub team. Do they have jerseys now or do they still just wear green tee shirts with masking tape for numbers ?
MANY MANY players haven't adjusted to Sven's style of play. Many from the press believe that THIS GAME will tell all. It's in OHIO, so it's more than lopsided for the U.S. favor. I expect for us to FIGHT, though. Good for you. Good for f*kin' you. Let's throw a little gas on this fire: Out of the last 13 matches played between these two teams, when U.S. dominance started, only 4 have been of the caliber and importance similar to the next game (2010 WCQ), where the games have split results (2 wins, 2 losses each). Of the remaining 9, 6 are friendlies and have been in the United States, with the U.S. winning 4 and lastly 2 draws in Houston's Reliant Stadium (0-0, 2-2). The remaining 3 have been the 2000 U.S. Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in 2007, both in the United States, and the biggie is the 2002 WCR 16, all but one played in the U.S. There have been only 2 of those played in Mexican soil since those 13 started in June 11, 2000's U.S. win in New Jersey. Score still stands at 30-15-10 in favor of Mexico. Y'all own us this century, decade, and millennium.
Seeing as though that's the one we currently live in...SCOREBOARD! I'm sure it will be a good game. I'm also sure the USA will come out on top, again.
It's always entertaining when these two teams meet. The USA is bringing a stronger squad and will actually have a home field advantage for this game, which should help them. One thing that worries me is that in the past Mexico's overconfidence has been one of their reasons for not beating the USA, with their current form and injuries that may not be the case.
Guardado (Coruña) == Donovan (Bayern Munich, loan off L.A. Galaxy) Neither is playing? Won't be as FUN? Also, this is funny which I didn't know had happened: Sven Goran Eriksson Impersonator Derek Williams fools Mexican Club Pumas on visit to training grounds. Good one. Check out the GALLERY (warning, some pop ups). ANYWAY, some players are displaying their loyalty to Eriksson, but it seems to me that only the newly-called ones are the ones speaking out, while the veterans are reserved on their opinion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team#Training_camp_squad_v_Mexico Unless some players arrive later, that seems right to me. Compare with Mexico's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_national_football_team#Recent_call_ups . ALSO: http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12484619.html shows:
Those are our domestic players in camp right now. Most of them won't even make the final game day roster I don't think once the Euros are called in.
Yup, I only expect 4-5 of those players (Hejduk, Clark, Kljestan, Ching) to be on the roster against Mexico. Bornstein and Wynne also has a slim chance of making the final team. Edit: I just checked the USA blog and saw this: http://mnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2009/02/checking-in-from-deutschland.html
