Center Stage U.S. vs. Mexico rivalry in soccer

by Pat Garcia | February 4, 2008 at 05:15 pm

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U.S. vs. Mexico friendly game will be at the Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas on Feb.6

Last year's final score USA 2 - MEXICO 0

[q
url="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/5513376.html"]When
the teams met in the first soccer match at Reliant Stadium in 2003, it
was a significant moment for Houston.

The game helped show
many what we already knew. That soccer is significant in our city, a
city that is a gateway to Mexico and South America. A city that is one
of the great soccer cities in the United States and thriving home to
the Dynamo of MLS.

That game was billed as "La Revancha en la
Cancha" for Mexico, a time to avenge a 2-0 defeat at the World Cup in
2002. That defeat in the round of 16 in South Korea haunts players and
fans of Mexico.

It is one of many games that have helped to
build this rivalry. A rivalry that brings out the best and worst in
both teams, but that on the whole is great for both sides. Familiarity
has bred contempt.

Fans of Mexico might believe it is a birthright to defeat the United States in soccer.

Mexico
dominated the United States on the field for 40 years, compiling a
20-0-3 record. Few Americans even cared during that time.

The
Americans pulled off an occasional win during the 1980s and 1990s that
most likely was credited to the law of averages — or luck, if you were
a Mexico fan.

But things have changed dramatically in recent
times. The soccer culture in the United States has grown despite three
other traditional sports. A professional league has been solidified and
the country produces players capable of starring in the world's
greatest leagues. In case you haven't heard, soccer is an American
sport.[/q]

[q
url="http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/jozy-altidore-might-get-call-start-upfront-clint-dempsey"]We
can tell only so much from a friendly. Head coaches may learn a bit
about certain combinations. They can add a detail or two to the
dossiers of individual players, helping nominally to sort out who can
keep pace internationally.

But, really, with so little at stake, it's like a wedding
rehearsal. You may walk through the steps, but you still don't know who
may go wobbly and fumble their lines at the moment of truth.

It's the paradox of the friendly: Teams need them, despite a muted
value. Show up. Play. Learn a little. Rinse. Repeat. It's all a bit
humdrum.

With one big exception. U.S. Soccer and the Mexican federation have
seen the value, financial and otherwise, of a high-profile set-to once
a year, usually early in the calendar. It's the one occasion when the
pressure of a friendly reaches critical mass -- nearly enough to
simulate the weight of a match that truly matters.

And that's why everyone should savor U.S.-Mexico. Any U.S.-Mexico.

Source: soccernet.espn.go.com[/q]

[q
url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=505040&root=us&cc=3888"]"From
a soccer standpoint, [I] have a great deal of respect for Mexico, for
their players, for the way they play," he said. "We know when we come
up against them it's going to be a tough challenge."[/q]

[q
url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=505040&root=us&cc=3888"]Coach
Hugo Sanchez is certainly bringing a strong team from Mexico. Bradley
says Sanchez's selections didn't influence his own late picks; the U.S.
coach announced which European-based players would travel only on
Saturday, two days after Sanchez unveiled his roster.[/q]

[q
url="http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/02/photo-by-isi-ph.html"]The
best way to describe the U.S. national team roster chosen by Bob
Bradley for Wednesday's friendly against Mexico is to call it an
exciting look at the future.

Michael Bradley, Freddy Adu and
Jozy Altidore have all been called in, joining Maurice Edu in a group
that should be the nucleus of the U.S. Olympic team and the U.S.
national team for years to come. Bradley is ready to test the
youngsters against the toughest opponent in the region.[/q]