Mexico-U.S. World Cup Qualifying Preview
Apparently dodgeball-playing Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Mexicans are loose ahead of their critical game with the U.S. Wednesday. (AP Photos).
I'll update this post as events warrant and kickoff nears.
The essentials: The 1 p.m. game is in Spanish on Telemundo and in English on little known cable channel mun2, which has a free preview on DirecTV channel 203 and Dish channel 838, while Time Warner will also preview the channel. Plan your (long) lunch accordingly.
Updated: I'm told the only live online broadcast of the game is here for those stuck at work and/or without television access.
Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre (right) is a little tense though. 
The extras: Even ESPN is taking the game seriously: a 30-minute SportsCenter 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Special from outside Estadio Azteca begins at 12:30 p.m. But don't be lulled into thinking the game airs on that channel: for the first time in its 30-year history ESPN airs a live pre-match show for a soccer match it won't televise.
Viewing parties: The Galaxy are promoting two from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ye Olde Kings Head pub, 116 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica and The Olde Ship, 1120 W. 17th St., Santa Ana.
Know: Here are the lineups the last time these nations faced each other in February in the 2-0 U.S. win in Columbus, Ohio to open the final round of World Cup qualifying:
Mexico-Oswaldo Sanchez; Aaron Galindo, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio; Leandro Augusto, Alberto Medina (Antonio Naelson, 60th), Pavel Pardo; Carlos Ochoa, Nery Castillo (Israel Martinez, 34th), Giovani dos Santos (Omar Bravo, 72nd)
United States-Tim Howard; Frankie Hejduk, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce; Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan (Ricardo Clark, 86th), DaMarcus Beasley; Landon Donovan, Brian Ching (Jozy Altidore, 83rd).
Of course, Pearce, Kljestan and Beasley were dropped for this game, while Frankie Hejduk is also absent.
I'm not going to pick the team anymore than I'm going to make predictions (2-2 with a late U.S. goal crushing Mexico's collective soul. Oh, sorry did I say that out loud?) but you can guess the basic structure based on the above XI.
Add in Spector and Bocanegra as the starting full backs, while DeMerit and Onyewu will likely occupy central defense. In midfield, how about Bradley, Feilhaber, Clark, and Dempsey with Donovan and Davies (not Ching) partnering up front? And yeah, Altidore sits to start. But I don't pick the team. Just sayin'.
Read more idle speculation and uninformed opinion in my Tuesday column.
Predictions and discussion welcome.
Updated 8 a.m.
*Just in time for today's game U.S. Soccer has unveiled its Web site aimed at securing the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. Sign the petition, add the widget to your whatever page, buy a bumper sticker.
* Details on a Nike-hosted viewing party in Hollywood is here.
*Los Angeles-based soccer blogger Jennifer Doyle has her take on the game and a link to her conversation on KPFK Tuesday with Gustavo Arellano of "Go Ask A Mexican" fame. Check out the From a Left Wing blog here.
*Here's a preview from The Washington Post's always excellent Steven Goff.
*Brian Ching tweeted around 8 a.m. and sounds like he's going to get psyched with some kick ass tunes before kickoff: "Just listening to some mellow music now but, building a pregame playlist. Got some Breaking Benjamins, Offspring, Disturbed, Godsmack."
*And, as always, the Mexicans need to watch out for the proverbial elephant zebra in the room..
*Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre says he does expect any surprises from the U.S., but look at that body language - what does he expect?
*The U.S. Soccer Players Web site has everything you need to know about playing soccer at altitude.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. 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 and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Nick, thanks for your coverage. My prediction based on the tea leaves and nothing else, Azteca crowd turns on the El Tri after an anemic lack-of-offense, pressure cooker turns up on El Tri, and US wins 2-1 for the first time ever in Azteca.
If USA cannot win with its strongest team in years, after Confederations, Donovan and Gooch playing their best, while Mexico is at an all-time low in futbol quality, well then, its never going to win at Azteca. All the stars and tea leaves are aligned today.
Thank you for the stuck-at-work link. Can you slip a beer into my water bottle too? (o;
Or maybe Blanco is just practicing throwing the ball at his mark?