for those that saw the brazil game You have to realize this is a new mexico with a new coach. Their coach Antonio Lavolpe is and offensive minded coach. His teams are known for creating chance after chance after chance. His mfl team (toluca) was a goal scoring machine. the last coach mexico had (javier aguirre) was a defensive coach. Every time they played they looked down on the usa as inferior. They always used a slow pace against the usa and in my opinion as a way of saying (we don't need to waste our energy to beat this team). now things are different. Mexico takes the game to its opponent, mexico creates tons of chances and is faster and of course the usa is bigger and badder than ever and now is the best in concacaf. Can the USA contain the new mexico?
I will waive any opportunity to predict the outcome because I am cautiously optimistic, but cautious nonetheless, that the USA will win. It will be a tough match I think. Anyways, the thing about USA-Mexico in the World Cup is that, defensive or not, Mexico did not play their game because the USA didn't let them. When you're forced to chase your opponents, your style of play goes out the window. Now your team plays scrappy, come from behind soccer. It's not pretty, and there's a chance you might get back into the game, but until then you resort to some ugly soccer. That's what happened to Mexico last time out, a foul-littered death in the end, whatever their strategy. That was also true in the WCQs: Mexico couldn't recover from the first goal in Columbus, and the US couldn't play their game in Azteca. So, whoever comes to play in Houston, the object remains the same: as long as the US scores first, containment will come by itself. If they do that, yeah, I think they'll manage to confound the new manager.
If we win, great. If we lose, that's ok, too. I look at it as Mexico getting better means the U.S. has more quality competition, which translates into a better U.S. team and a better CONCACAF. Mexico and the U.S. may be bitter rivals, but when one improves it's good for the other one.
No matter how we do in this game it means nothing. We won the game that really mattered the WC game. When we play this game most of the spectators will probably for rooting for Mexico because they are Mexicans and Mex/American in the stands. Those fans want some pay back even though this game is only a friendly you can't get pay back in a friendly. Their fans are not smart enough to know that. Their coach and their players know what their fans in Mexico want to see happen in this game which is a win by Mexico. They will be a lot more motivated then our players will be motivated. So for that reason Mexico has a better chance for a win in this game at least. --------- As someone said most of our players in this game are MLS players. I think Mexico is in the same position. Overal that is a weakness for both teams not so much in this game but a weakness in future games and future World Cups. Mexican players are loved in Mexico most of their good players want to play in Mexico. That is a weakness for their future as far as ever winning a WC. It can also turn into a weakness for the US if all our good players stay here and play in the US. The best have to play against the best to be great. Our guys and the Mexicans are not playing against the best game in and game out.
Yes, I will be rooting for Mexico because I am Mexican. Between Mexico and the US, there is no such a thing as a friendly game. We've lost too many games already. On the other hand, believe it or not, I want the US to win. This is my adoptive country. Some day I would like to see soccer as a major sport in the US, and that only comes with a winning team. So when the game starts, I will be torn between two feelings. Mexico, Mexico, ra,ra, ra, or go USA, go USA. I just thought I share my feelings with you. I would not say may the best one win, but may the game of soccer win.
No, I don't like draws. Hopefully somebody will win. Hey, in the middle of my confusion, I forgot to say that two of the speedy players we saw in the Mexican front line for the Brazil game went out with injuries before the game ended. Also, Pavel Pardo a very experienced player was also injured. Don't know if they will be ready for the US game. So, that may slow down the Mexican attack.
US can pull this off. Mexico may have more motivation, but some of the US players may also try just as hard so they can continue earning more call-ups. Brazil for some reason just can't beat teams unless it's necessary. I just can't believe that a team that featured Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Ze Roberto alone couldn't score on Mexico.
"Brazil for some reason just can't beat teams unless it's necessary." Not exactly a bad reputation. Why win when u don't have to. By the way, I agree that Brazil sucked it up and was upset that they didn't play Robinho and Adriano.
You always want to win. I know Arena always wants to win. But the motivation to win in this game is greater for Mexico. Which also means there is more pressure on Mexico to win. Especially on the Mexican coach, the Mexican fan can easily forget the Brazil game if they lose to the US.
Quote originally posted by Richie (Which also means there is more pressure on Mexico to win. Especially on the Mexican coach, the Mexican fan can easily forget the Brazil game if they lose to the US.) There is huge pressure on Mexico to win this one. THey were horribly embarrased by losing to the US on the biggest stage and need to prove to their country and themselves that they are the premier soccer power on this continent. Not sure I really believe that. For the US I think it is also a critical game. We need to solidify our World Cup success with a win over a huge rival in a somewhat "neutral" environment.
There is wanting to win, and needing to win. Of course, Arena et al want to win this game, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if we lost or drew. In the end, it's a friendly, and I think that our run in Korea may have relieved us once and for all of the need to validate our soccer power status with friendly results. Although I think a lot of the 'this game is meaningless' mantra being repeated around here is just setting up for a possible loss. This game isn't meaningless or pointless. This is a game against our greatest soccer rival. It doesn't matter if it's pre-season, a friendly, a U-17 tourney, or gringos v. latinos at the local park. I always want the USA to beat Mexico.
I dunno, but it seems like there are an increasing number of young guys coming up in the U.S. that have already signed contracts with or are linked up with top European clubs (to be placed in their youth academies), thus bypassing MLS completely. That is a good trend in my opinion.
Recall that the Gold Cup final is in Mexico. They have a new coach, and this is his first time facing the US, who have not lost to Mexico since that WCQ in Azteca. We want to win. Badly.
Should this question even be asked !? Honestly the U.S has shown that it can handle Mexicos attack. Not only that but the Mexican National team has yet to score more than two goals per game.. However i am glad that Lavolpe (New Coach) Understands how the USMNT plays, he has acknowledge How American Catenaccio has gottened the best out of Mexico in the past games. If Mexico sits back and defends the game would not go anywhere but the pressure is on el Tri to start scoring goals so yes they will risk more than the Yanks but not in a way where they can be burnt by a fast counter.. A better question would be Can an Offensive minded USMNT beat Mexico ?
I think Arena would take a 3-2 win, but would be unhappy about Mexico scoring 2 goals. On the other hand the Mexican coach would be very unhappy with a 2-3 loss, and letting in 3 goals.
AHHHHH, a great question!!! This is something the US will be faced with more and more as they get better. No longer will they be able to play counter attack the whole game, because a lot of teams will play less offensive and wait for the US to attack. I think over the years as people like Donovan, Beasley, Convey, Quaranta, and (gasp) ADU develop, and hopefully play overseas, the US will learn how to be an attacking team. The current squad I don't believe has enough quality to play an attacking strategy against a team like Mexico. Their counter would would massacre us. So if Mexico sits back, this game could be nill-nill. I don't expect they will however given the last result. They may come out that way but the players will want some payback and start pressing. I think the result is going to be the same, 2-0.
Yeah, that's a good one. Countering as a main source of attack is a weakness IMHO. I really don't care if we win or lose this one and I'd rather see an open game. We need to develop the ability to attack defenses when we need a goal, and I don't think we'll ever develop that ability unless we try it first. Expect a slow game anyways because of the heat and humidity.
This game is going to something to watch. Mexico is going to come out of the gates flying and will try to get that early goal to ease soem of the pressure. The question is, how does the US respond. Do they sit back and absorb the pressure and counter. Or do they attack and put pressure on Mexico. Either, way the longer the tricolors go without a goal, the more frustrated they are going to become, which is always good for the US.
Coke-Pepsi wars of the 1990s made them both piles of money. I still want us to beat Mexico every time we play them here!