With the CONCACAF Cup just days away, the anticipation continues to build for the showdown between CONCACAF rivals USA and Mexico. This game for Mexico not only means a chance to play in the Confederations Cup two years from now, but it also gives them a chance to beat a hated rival. Of course, with Mexico there’s also the stuff off the field that makes this game important.
Dos a Cero! Dos a Cero! Those were the chants that rained down from USA fans after Landon Donovan doubled the USA lead in the first half of the 2011 Gold Cup Final. What followed was an astonishing Mexican comeback with four unanswered goals, topped off by Giovani Dos Santos' brilliant solo goal. That was supposed to be the beginning of Mexico’s dominance of the region and their biggest rival again.
In the four years since the 4-2 win, Mexico has been unable to beat the United States. In the four friendlies they’ve played, Mexico has drawn two and lost two. Including one in El Estadio Azteca. The two World Cup qualifying matches ended in a draw at El Azteca and another loss in Columbus.
El Tri now have a chance to put those games behind them and start fresh against the United States when they play them on Saturday night. More than anything, it will be a big mental relief for the players who must know in the back of their minds about the recent record.
Off the field, the game means everything for the Mexican Federation because of the money. Reports from Mexico suggest that if Mexico are unable to get the ticket to the Confederation Cup, they will lose out on roughly 50 million dollars in sponsorship and commercial money. You can also almost guarantee that kit sponsor Adidas would come out with new jerseys for Mexico as they did for the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Come Saturday, for the players it will be about ending a four year skid and reclaim the spot on top of the CONCACAF thrown. For the Federation it’s about what they do best: make the most money possible out of the players.