USA V Mexico: The Painful truth

 (Courtesy of EsMexico.com)

 

On Wednesday the USMNT will face the seemingly impossible task of going into Mexico and finding a result against El Tri. This game favors Mexico heavily. Mexico have brought their A squad and are looking to flex their muscles after their Olympic triumph. Mexico have the clear advantage and their is an evident gap between the two sides. Mexico currently are the dominate side in CONCOCAF, they are about to enter their “golden generation”. The debate is on how big the gap actually is. Some people are saying Mexico are darkhorse candidates to win a WC. Lets not get crazy, they have put together a very solid team but they are not an elite team. It is going to be a rough couple of years to see Mexico rise but US has some quality players that are underrated.

 

USA has never beaten Mexico in Mexico and the game will be held at the Mexican national team cathedral, the one the only Estadio Azteca. Home to the national team Estadio Azteca is sacred grounds and very few teams get results. In fact only two teams have won at Azteca.The stadium sits in the annals of the densely populated Mexico City. It holds over 100,000 people all of them will be in green cheering for El Tri.  It is also home to Maradona’s hand of god, which is known as the most infamous goal scored in soocer history.

Jurgen Klinsmann, acknowledges the gap and is trying to decrease the gap by bringing in the young and inexperienced players of America and having them go against Azteca. Terrance Boyd, Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams all get called into camp. These guys have great track records playing in Germany and Austria they see top level competition but have never faced a foe like Mexico. Klinsi also brought in some MLSers who are looking to make an impact, on the national team. The brilliance of Jurgen lies in bringing in all this inexperience and putting up against the most hostile crowd they will ever face. They will learn and grow from this experience instantly. Azteca will make them tougher and prepare them for world cup qualifying.

Also included in this roster is a heavy contingent of American’s playing in Liga MX. Demarcus Beasley who has seen himself in National team Limbo gets a chance to put himself right back in the fold. Former Philadelphia Union player Michael Orozco Fiscal, gets a nod along with Paco Torres, Herculez Gomez, and Edgar Castillo. Edgar Castillo, Torres and Orozco all are in fierce competition for playing time on this US squad. The Mexican contingent knows Azteca and the Mexican team better then the rest. They have the most to gain from a strong performance.

This game will be a test and a half. A result is not expected but certainly will be appreciated. Jurgen is using this friendly as a learning tool. It will be the toughest learning tool, going unprepared into hostile territory. The US will look to go out and try to play a style of football that is defensively sound and tactically aware of the high powered Mexican offense. The USMNT will need to play simple football, and try not to let Mexico get under their skin. This game is much more then just a friendly, it is insulting to the rivalry to call it a friendly but since it is a “friendly” nothing is at stake.