Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.I Hate Mexico
Well, not really.
But how many casual readers would read a post headlined "I love the culture and the people, but harbor a healthy disdain for the Mexican National Team"?
I share the same perception of Mexican futbol some Europeans have of American foreign policy: it's perceived as insular and arrogant. And that provides motivation.
There's really only two things you need to know about today's U.S.-Mexico game in Houston: The U.S. is unbeaten at home against Mexico, outscoring them 15-1 along the way. And the Mexicans want to change that. Badly.
I spent part of last weekend talking to the likes of former U.S. internationals Mike Sorber and Chivas USA Coach Preki and current internationals Brad Guzan and Brad Davis about why the U.S. has Mexico's number these days, at least "at home" (Mexican fans will, as usual, far outnumber American fans at the game).
There were no good observations.
"The U.S. has grown as a football nation," offered Preki, but that doesn't really shed much light on the American dominance over a nation filled with accomplished, highly-technical and highly-paid futbol players. Most soccer observers would contend the domestic Mexican league is better than the one here, so you can't simply say MLS is the reason either., even though that has surely helped. Has the U.S. simply psyched Mexico's players out?
No matter. It makes for a great rivalry. The game is at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Want more?
Columnist Paul Oberjuerge has some thoughts about why Americans should care about the game.
Grahame L. Jones over at The Times provides context and perspective on the increasing importance of the game to both the U.S., Mexico and the growth of the sport.
And U.S. Soccer has more details and facts and figures than you can shake a stats book at here and here, including details of the extensive ESPN coverage.
Get that healthy hate, um disdain, on.
Comments
I think Mexico did a good job that game. If it wasn't for the U.S. goalie Mexico had the game. They dominated the field.
Posted by: Teresa | February 11, 2008 12:35 PM