USA Ready for Mexico
Just as the German national side literally prayed for poor weather prior to their 1954 World Cup final match against Hungary, so to will the US side pray for a bit of help from the weather. It has been well documented that the USA/ Mexico rivalry has been heated and made for some historic games, though on the heels of a World Cup birth, both sides are looking for an advantage going into their next matches. If the USA wants to take full home field advantage, they will with out a doubt need to hope for a downpour to off throw their southern rivals.
In a six team group, the USA is hands down favourite to qualify in first position. With matches against Mexico and Costa Rico being the statistical and tangible problem spots, the USA Eagles should make short work of the groups other sides, such as Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador and Honduras. In this first round tie however, the USA will face a Mexican side that has been rattled by both injury and suspension. Hoping to take advantage of a very promising situation, the US would be keen on taking all three points from this encounter.
Speaking to ESPN, US keeper Tim Howard noted, “There is so much tension surrounding the game that you can see it- see it in our eyes- see it in their eyes. You know, neither team walks on the field and pretends as if this is business as usual. It is a different game and I think the atmosphere is incredible.”
Winning zero matches from ten and going 0-8-2 in all games played stateside this decade, which many believe is a direct result of the diverse weather conditions faced up north, Mexico has much to prove. Though, being this historical underdog, El Tri seems to actually be off the hook, as it would seem that the pressure has mounted itelf solely on the laps of the American players. Having homefield advantage might be a massave difference for most clubs, however Mexico will look to captialize on any chances that they might just receive and would be willing to take even a single point fro this encounter.
Also noteworthy is the fate of Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson , who was named manager of the Mexican side this summer and has been under the gun due to their poor performcnces. Many have said that this match will make or break the former England manager’s fate oging into the final leg of the campaign.
If the weather report for Columbus is to believed, the Red White and Blue might have something to cheer about, as the man upstairs might rain on their parade- a rain that is most welcome.
Rosters for Wednesday’s game:
USA
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers),
Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Xerez), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Bayern Munich)
MEXICO
GOALKEEPERS: Oswaldo Sánchez (Santos Laguna), Guillermo Ochoa (Club América), José de Jesús Corona (Tecos)
DEFENDERS: Juan Carlos Valenzuela (Club América), Julio César Dominguez (Cruz Azul), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Ricardo Osorio (VFB Stuttgart), Rafael Marquez (FC Barcelona), Aaron Galindo (Guadalajara), Leobardo López (Pachuca)
MIDFIELDERS: Fausto Pinto (Cruz Azul), Pável Pardo (Club América), Leandro Augusto (Pumas), Luis Perez (Monterrey), Israel Martinez (San Luis), Antonio Naelson (Toluca)
FORWARDS: Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), César Villaluz (Cruz Azul), Giovanni Dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur), Matías Vuoso (Santos Laguna), Carlos Ochoa (Guadalajara), Nery Castillo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Guillermo Franco (Villarreal), Omar Bravo (Deportivo La Coruña)
Peter Herrnreiter
