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World Cup Qualiying Preview: USA v Mexico [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
One of the most anticipated matches of the weekend takes place in Columbus, Ohio, when the United States and Mexico butt heads. The winners secure passage to Germany.
USA (5-0-1, 15 pts – 2nd) v. Mexico (5-1-0, 16 pts – 1st)
When: 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, September 3, 2005
Where: Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, USA
It’s here. The date almost every fan of the United States and Mexico had circled on their calendars when the Hexagonal qualifying schedule was put together. The winner of this CONCACAF Super Clasico can say with finality that they are going to Germany. As expected, both Mexico and the United States are on the verge of World Cup qualification, and even if one side loses on Saturday, the other is expected to clinch within the week.
Still, there is no better way to say Auf Wiedersehen than with a win on Saturday over your regional neighbor, and arch-rivals.
Mexico bested the US back in March 2-1 at home, which is not surprising considering the Americans have never tasted victory and only taken one rare draw south of the border. But to quote the Monkees: that was then and this is now.
Fans of this rivalry are more likely to remember how each country qualified for Germany 2006, and to say their side did it with a win over their nemesis is every fan’s dream.
As if the prospects of the match itself were not enough to stir up emotions, Mexico’s manager, Ricardo LaVolpe, slung plenty of locker room fodder across the media waves this week and scoffed at any notion that the US is superior.
“Ha. Well they didn’t demonstrate it in the last game and in Olympic qualifying they ate up four goals. Besides that there is the last game we played,†he said. “We’ve only lost one game and that was a friendly in the 93rd minute off of a header.â€
LaVolpe also questioned the American style of play that eliminated Mexico from the last World Cup.
“They always only go for the counter-attack. One has to criticize their style of play because it’s ugly. We already know how the US play,†said LaVolpe. “They base their football on organisation and they kick long balls to try to create danger on a counter-attack.â€
The usually brash US manager, Bruce Arena, meantime was surprisingly reserved in his comments during a midweek conference call, deciding not to mince words.
“Obviously we look forward to the game on Saturday for a couple of reasons. Mexico is certainly and arguably our biggest rival in CONCACAF and that always makes for a good game,†said Arena, who is determined not to get complacent based upon what happened four years ago during qualifying.
“Last time around we were 4-0-1 going into game six in Mexico City and lost there, then lost against Honduras and Costa Rica and we were 4-3-1, so I’m not counting on anything right now and I’m not commenting on anything. Until you can show me that mathematically we’re qualified to go to Germany, I don’t have any comment on it.â€
From a personnel standpoint the US have a very strong side available for selection. Premiership-based captain Claudio Reyna and veteran striker Brian McBride are in fine form heading into Saturday’s match, and the American defence will be boosted by the return of Fulham defender Carlos Bocanegra from injury.
Another player whom many will be eager to see take the pitch is young Eddie Johnson, who was held scoreless in Mexico. The FC Dallas forward is still making his way back to international fitness levels, but his innate ability simply to score goals could see him partnered in a three-pronged attack with McBride and the player everyone in Mexico loves to hate: Landon Donovan.
Should Johnson not feature, DaMarcus Beasley is another player coming back from injury whom Arena will consider starting up front due to the PSV winger’s sheer game-changing pace.
For LaVolpe, who refuses to use outspoken striker Cuauhtémoc Blanco, there are a couple major concerns. Mexican skipper, midfielder Pavel Pardo, is suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation, and defender Salvador Carmona is serving a ban after testing positive for drugs at the Confederations Cup.
But the coach is brimming with such confidence about his team’s inevitable World Cup qualification that he has suggested he’ll let his assistants manage the rest of the Hexagonal matches after Mexico qualifies on Saturday.
And he has reason to be confident given Mexico’s position atop the standings. Striker Jared Borgetti, now playing in England, and up-and-coming forward Francisco Fonseca have enough quality between them to land the death knell on Saturday should the Americans be caught out of position looking for goals.
Rivalries, controversies, harsh words aside, both teams are sure to offer up a Saturday night feast from Crew Stadium.
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