So they meet again.
The United States and Mexico have emerged as unlikely opponents in the
round of 16 teams vying for a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Although the neighboring countries have long been bitter rivals, the
win-or-go-home match to be played in the wee hours of Monday morning is
the first time the pair will have met on soccer's grandest stage.
Mexico has traditionally dominated the series that began in 1934, but
that hasn't been the case in recent years. The Americans are 9-28-9
all-time against the Tricolores but have won four of the last
five meetings, including a 1-0 win in Denver on April 3.
Now the most important game in the rivalry's history is at hand.
Dave Dir, the former Dallas Burn coach now providing World Cup analysis
for ESPN, said the fact that U.S. and Mexican teams know each other so
well makes this game unique among World Cup matches. Both teams will be
well-prepared and know what to expect from each other.
The U.S. team, having reached the second round on foreign soil for the
first time since 1930, may have extra incentive to win. No matter what
has happened in recent years between Mexico and the United States, the
Americans will again be fighting for respect.
"I think there's a disrespect of [U.S.] soccer from Mexican players and
fans," Dir said. "Probably the Americans feel that. When a team is
pounding you for so long, and all of a sudden you start pounding them
back, they don't like it. That adds to the feud."
Mexico, which won Group G, has clearly been one of the strongest teams
remaining. Mexico has played a solid possession game in all of its
matches, looking composed and patient. The team knocked off Croatia 1-0
in the opener, followed by a 2-1 win over Ecuador and a 1-1 tie against
one of the favorites to win it all, Italy.
Coach Javier Aguirre, hired last June, has Mexico bidding for its third
trip to the final group of eight, something it accomplished in '70 and
'86.
"I feel like that coach is somebody special," Dir said. "I get a really
good feeling for his passion of the game. That's maybe what Mexico has
been missing since '86. ... This coach has that. You can feel it. You
can see it. That's the missing ingredient with their talent."
The United States, which finished second in Group D, is coming off a
humbling 3-1 defeat against Poland and has to show it can bounce back.
Unlike Mexico, Team USA will not be at full strength. Left back Frankie
Hejduk will be out after picking up his second yellow card. And
Richardson's Jeff Agoos will miss the rest of the World Cup with a
strained calf muscle.
But Chicago Fire coach Bob Bradley, who coaches U.S. players Josh Wolff
and DaMarcus Beasley, said there's no reason the Americans shouldn't be
confident.
"You get to the next round, and now all it takes is a bunch of guys on
the same day pushing and having good games," he said. "All of a sudden
you can get yourself on a run and [be] finding yourself in the
quarterfinals or semifinals."
All that stands in the way is a Mexican team playing its best soccer in
years.
