WCB Preview: USA vs Mexico

Big big game on Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio. You know the one I mean. It’s USA vs Mexico in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers. The CONCACAF Clasico.

Points in the hexagonal qualifiers are at stake, but pride is probably more important. The US doesn’t like Rafa Marquez’s roughhousing, Mexico does’t like Landon Donovan. No one seems to like poor Sven-Goran Eriksson.

And the big stat we can’t escape… Mexico hasn’t beaten the US on US soil in 10 years, which is what makes this game so intriguing: These sides won’t be playing for a draw.

So ahead of the big game I asked our USA World Cup Blog and Mexico World Cup Blog writers an identical set of five questions. Answers below…

1. How would you describe the USA vs Mexico rivalry in one sentence?
USA WCB:
BROOKS: Equal passion, one-sided results.
MELISSA: I’m too lazy to do the research but I’m pretty sure the US has never beat Mexico in Mexico so I consider Wednesday’s match a warm-up for August 12.
CARTER: A 90 minute exercise in which Mexico tries ardently not to return home to public humiliation but usually does.
Mexico WCB:
ALAN: 90 minutes that determine my mood for the rest of the month.
ANDREA: The most epic game on this side of the pond.
AL: An excuse to hate the opposing nationality for 90 minutes when there really is no hate.

2. How do you feel about your current manager/coach?
USA WCB:
BROOKS: I love Bob Bradley in a way that he should find terrifying.
MELISSA: The Bradleys are the Kennedys, The Bushs, and the Clintons all rolled into one. I think Bob’s success has clearly shown that US Men’s Soccer needs a family dynasty. Too bad Mia Hamm had girls. Does Dominic Kinnear have kids? Maybe he’ll have a boy who winds up scoring the goal that finally clinches a World Cup for the USA.
CARTER: I feel that his press conferences could use some work but his laser eyes death stare is probably the best in the buisness.
Mexico WCB:
ALAN: I think that Sven still needs more time to get used to the Mexican way of playing football. Unfortunately, he might not get that time if he doesn’t start winning.
ANDREA: So far I have not been very impressed with Mr. Eriksson. He’s been named one of the best managers in the world but I don’t think he knows enough about Mexican football to be able to make much of an impact on the national team. Right now he’s mostly picking the people who are the most marketable(the “Europeans”) and throwing them all together because their names look good together on the team sheet. Even I could do that.
AL: Sven hasn’t changed the team much, but I have an inexplicable feeling like he knows what he’s doing. The only reason we’re in this final group is because of our superior goal differential to Jamaica, who tied us on points in the last group. Sven is a storied manager and the fact that the team isn’t living up to expectations is only proof that the problems are beyond that of the manager.

3. Which player from your team do you expect to come up with the goods on Wednesday?
USA WCB:
BROOKS: Mr. Landycakes. His first national team goal was against Mexico and he’s had three more against them since then. Given his recent form with Bayern Munich, I fully expect him to notch his fifth against Mexico tomorrow.
MELISSA: Timmay Howard. He’ll have a shutout then afterwards, start appearing in those creepy Gatorade commercials with Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, animated Jackie Robinson Tiger Woods, etc etc etc.
CARTER: I can think of quite a few, but I’ll show some love for the keeper, big Timmy Howard. He has been en fuego for the Toffees all year in the EPL and, to be frank, when does he not come up with the goods?
Mexico WCB:
ALAN: Bravo, he has been out of favor for La Coruña and hasn’t played for Mexico in a while, mainly because he missed a penalty, so I think if he wakes up and realizes how much he can gain from this game he’ll come up with the goods.
ANDREA: I’m excited to see the combination of two players. Omar Bravo from Deportivo La Coruna and Alberto Medina from Chivas always combined well together at Chivas and I want to see if they can do it for the national team.
AL: Nery Castillo. He is looking to make his mark again after a laughable 2008, and in a match where everyone fights to even make the bench I don’t think that he will disappoint. Plus, American defenders don’t like his speed, which I noticed the last time he played this match.

4. And which opposition player do you fear the most?
USA WCB:
BROOKS: Lionel Messi. Thankfully, he doesn’t play for Mexico.
MELISSA: Nery Castillo. He may have another on-field mental breakdown, grab the ball, then run for the hills (are there hills in Columbus?).
CARTER: Probably Aaron Galindo from Chivas. The fact that his name is Aaron is somewhat disconserting to me for some reason.
Mexico WCB:
ALAN: Donovan, he’s good, he’s hated, and he always seems to eat his Wheaties before a Mexico game.
ANDREA: I don’t really fear anyone but I like to watch Landycakes. He always causes some controversy and that’s part of the fun.
AL: Landon Donovan, only because he transforms into a force during these matches. He has contributed an assist or a goal in the past few derbies and you can tell how badly he wants Mexico to go down. Like any other Mexican, I can’t stand the sight of him which only adds to the intensity that us spectators feel.

5. What is your prediction for Wednesday’s game?
USA WCB:
BROOKS: A 3-1 win for the US, a deadly robot attack, and the onset of the Apocalypse. The latter two being unrelated to the former, but still inevitable.
MELISSA: USA 2 – Mexico 0. One of the goals will be from Landon “second chance” Donovan during play and the other will be from a set piece, scored by a defender.
CARTER: Dos a Cero.
Mexico WCB:
ALAN: Mexico 3 – 1 USA
ANDREA: Mexico will grind out a win. 2-1.
AL: 2-0 to Mexico.

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