Top Stories

Mexico wins U-17 World Cup

Mexico U-17 World Cup (Reuters)

By FRANCO PANIZO

If seeing Mexico lift a second consecutive Gold Cup trophy was enough to leave a large gash in U.S. men's national team fans' egos, watching El Tri's youth team win the U-17 World Cup just two weeks later was probably like rubbing salt in the still-fresh wound.

Mexico won its second ever U-17 World Cup on Sunday, defeating Uruguay, 2-0, in front of packed crowd at Estadio Azteca. El Tri, which last won this tournament in 2005, was victorious on a first half goal from captain Antonio Briseno and a second half stoppage-time finish from Giovani Casillas.

With support good enough for a full national team match, Mexico got out on top when Briseno scored from close range in the 31st minute. The tournament hosts had help in avoiding an Uruguay equalizer as an Elbio Alvarez effort hit the crossbar. But that would be as close as the South Americans got as Casillas put the nail in the coffin with a counter-attack goal near the final whistle.

Major League Soccer was represented on the Mexican championship side, with starting goalkeeper and FC Dallas Academy product Richard Sanchez hailing from the Dallas area.

Mexico is now tied with Ghana for second-most U-17 World Cup titles with two apiece. Nigeria and Brazil have three each.

Here are the game highlights:

 

——–

What do you think of Mexico winning the U-17 World Cup? Not fazed by it? Wondering what it will take for the United States to produce talent capable of winning a youth World Cup?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. AJ

    What ever repulsion does American players get at Azteca, you have to thank for it Landon Donovan’s insult at Jalisco Stadium, where he urinated in front of the whole press corps.

    That insult has not been taken lightly by the fans, and is well remebered.

    What would you think if Chicharito, or Cuauhtemoc Blanco did the same thing?

    Reply
  2. 1. Corona (cruz azul)
    2. Michel (chivas)
    3. Ochoa (ojaccio)
    4. Sanchez (santos)
    5. Talavera (Toluca)
    6. Liborio ( Veracruz)
    That’s how I figure

    Reply
  3. Uruguay played there 1st 2 group games, and I believe did there preWC training in Pachuca(over 6500 feet). They also played a game in Morelia at nearly 6300 ft.
    Meanwhile, not many of Mexico’s players were from Toluca, Puebla or the Mexico city teams. (I believe Atlas and Chivas in 5000+ ft Guadalajara/Zapopan provide 4 each, and 6 were from low altitude Rayados, Tigres and Dallas FC), so they too were unused to conditions in the capital, if a bit advantaged by living/training at some altitude.
    Uruguay had time to adjust to Mexico’s altitude, just as teams in the senior cup in South Africa did. The 100,000 screaming fans might be a different story, though.

    Reply
  4. No, he was born in Mexico. His parents are of Argentinean decent.

    The one that was born in California is not pictured.

    Reply
  5. Righhhhht. The u20 has more guys that are expected to be impactful players than the u17. Also, I think the stat you have is wrong its actually 8 of the 10 starters are playing 1st division futbol.

    Reply
  6. 1) They’re goalkeepers, or `keepers. Never “goalies”. Goalies…Goalies…I hate the word, as I hate all Montagues.

    2) Yes, he was born in California.

    Reply
  7. Yes, taking a two-goal lead against Brail is totally “bowing down before the start whistle is blown.”

    Psychological explanations are stupid. Brazil is better than us (and yes, enough so that they can overcome a two-goal lead at the half without it being because of some sort of terrible coaching fail) because Brazil has 250 million people playing and watching soccer seriously, and the US has like one-hundredth that number. That means that their players are more talented because they’re picking from a far larger crop. More talented teams win most of the time.

    “Belief” has nothing to do with it.

    Reply
  8. Doesn’t surprise me in the least. Look at the flameout rates for baseball draft picks, or the five-star recruit busts in college football. Prospecting is a risky business no matter the sport.

    That said, having more good prospects is obviously a lot better than having fewer of them…

    Reply
  9. Uh, a better analogy would be someone who is a Yankees fan, despite being born and raised in Dallas, and claims that it’s because his father came from New York.

    I mean, maybe, but it sure smells like frontrunning to me. It’s certainly within someone’s rights to be a frontrunner– you want to get your jollies off rooting for the Yankees, Red Wings, Patriots and Heat, eat your heart out. Just don’t expect me to respect it.

    People don’t really get agitated about people who are actual Mexican immigrants rooting for Mexico. (Well, okay, some do, but they’re racists and basically not worth worrying about.) It’s the people who are rooting for Mexico– against the US– despite having never set foot in the country that tick US soccer fans off.

    Reply
  10. Yet none of those goalies will ever by U-17 world champions 🙂 And to the folks talking about nationalism…think about it this way…you grew up a Redskins fan, ever since you were a kid, you’ve been rooting for the Redskins, because you grew up in Northern Va, and your dad was a fan. One day, your family moves to Dallas…do you all of a sudden become a Dallas Cowboys fan? Think about it, and take the nationalism out of it.

    Reply
  11. Ben, while I agree with you that the claims that Mexico can only win at Azteca are ridiculous, Spain is the European Champion and not the Dutch. And I don’t think that the Dutch were even in the same group with Mexico in South Africa. Nor did Mexico play against Germany. Mexico was in the same group with South Africa, France and the group winner, Uruguay (which beat Mexico at the group stage and, frankly, South Africa almost did the same). Are you talking about a different World Cup? The last time, the Dutch won the Euro was in 1980s, beating Soviet Union in the finals.

    Reply
  12. Matha
    Talavera is mexico’s fifth best goaliand that was enough for the gold cup.I support the MLS and USMNT but to say that howard is better than Corona (cruz azul) or michel (chivas) is just not correct. You sometime have to come out of your comfort zone and open your eyes.Mexico is better than us in every position but we have the chance to change.I’m just glad your not the coach.

    Reply
  13. De Soto, I agree with you that the altidude/air quality/Mexican fans may have affected the performance Uruguayan U17 team in the final (they beat Mexico less than 2 months ago 6-2). However, I disagree that there was cheating involved. It was perfectly appropriate for Mexico to schedule the final at Azteca, when the tournament was held in Mexico. Mexican U17 team won fair and square, although Uruguay may have been slightly unlucky after hitting the post at least twice.

    Reply
  14. AJ, while US-Mexico soccer is a big rivalry, most US soccer fans don’t hate Mexico or Mexican national team. I will root against Mexico whenever US plays them, but I am happy for Mexican 16 year olds in the U17 cup – it helps to raise the prestige of CONCACAF. Both Mexico and the US need a strong regional rival to be better prepared against stronger competition against European and South American teams. What bothers US fans are the trolls that come to these boards to trump the superiority of Mexican soccer (which is quite debatable) and also obnoxious behavior of Mexican fans at Azteca, when US players are pelted with objects, such as cups filled with urine, etc. I am sure that this is a minority of Mexican fans at Azteca that do these nasty things, but it is up to Mexican federation to ensure the proper security, which they do not. In Europe, the home team would have been given a 3-0 defeat, if they failed to ensure the visiting players’ security (e.g. a player is struck with objects thrown from the stands). What if the US fans pelted Mexican team with snowballs when they play in Columbus? They don’t do it, because either they respect the game and have class or at the very list there are proper security arrangements at the stadium. I cannot speak on behalf of South Americans, but I doubt that they really care that much about Mexico. Mexico is not one of their natural rivals. Argentina, for example, has well-established rivalries against Brazil, Germany and England. Do they really care that Mexican players refused to exchange jersey with them after Argentina beeat them 3-1? Not really. I don’t think Messi was broken hearted that he did not get an El Tri jersey. South Americans don’t hate Mexico. Didn’t they invite Mexican team to Copa America?

    Reply
  15. I’m going to just respectfully disagree with you and leave it at that.

    That team had mad talent. I am praying for the day the US U-17’s can get that sort of result. I’m not going to buy any Tri pom poms anytime soon but I gotta render to Cesar that which is Cesar’s.

    Reply
  16. Only controversy I’ve heard is here by you. 7 out of 7 games won and six were not played at Azteca. You act as if this was a big surprise to the Uruguay team (or any team for that matter). Everyone knows that championships are played at Azteca. It was planned well ahead of time.

    Reply
  17. Martha, the only place in Peru that has extreme altitude is Arequipa. Or are you saying the beaches in Peru end on a cliff?

    Reply
  18. What do prostitutes have to do with sportsmanship? Like American athletes have never had a hooker in their hotel room before. Please.

    Reply
  19. “Failure” definitely describes me. You kinda missed my point, so I failed once again (like I said, nothing new). We all define “good sportmanship” in different ways.

    You must have missed the open line about not being being ready to cede the sportmanship issue just yet.

    I also failed, again because I don’t remember reading where I wrote that I was rooting for them.

    Please help me out on that one. Thanks.

    Reply
  20. Yankiboy, if you want to overhaul the youth development system, you should be rooting for Klinsmann to be hired. He made the youth system overhaul a precondition for any deal. He did a successful youth system overhaul in Germany so he understands well what is needed to nourish talent. However, the USSF was not willing to agree to give Klinsmann his wish (at least in writing), which is why BB is still coaching the team.

    Reply
  21. I’m sure i f the U.S. ever won it, everyone would be freaking out. Looking at USA losing 4-0 to Germany and then watching Mexico beat them in dramatic fashion with heart worries the hell out of me. That’s our future, and if recall this tourney is credible dint donovan win player of the tournament in 1999?….you are Talking about our youth and future, our U-20 cant even beat guatemala. I respect what Mexio is accomplishing , but the attitude you have reflects USS towards youth development. it might not mean anything to us but its gonna sting us in the future, especially when they beat us to a pulp…

    Reply
  22. “Wow, you’re just plain bitter my friend.”

    And you call this civil discussion? You added zero to the conversation by calling me bitter. Run along now, “friend.”

    Reply
  23. Good sportsmanship when they’re winning?? You apparently miss the flair for dramatics and sniper rifle shots on any one of their players when they’re milking a lead. There’s nothing good sportsman about that, no matter the country.

    As far as this “good for the region” argument….that’s so flawed on countless levels but in the end…rooting for your rival based on it helping your regional image is just fail with a capital F.

    Reply
  24. I apologize, it was actually sarcasm (I’ll try harder). I respect the US team a lot, but his comment about the Gold Cup not being that impressive is like shooting himself in the foot.

    Reply
  25. Wasn’t it Vela and Dos Santos who were in the last group that won the U-17? You can directly tie Mexico’s success now to that young team.

    Reply
  26. And you think the Mexican National Team and it’s fans is one of them?

    Let’s see…

    Cheating, prostitutes, Marquez red cards, US Embassy having to be closed in 2002 in case of rioting after the World Cup, piss thrown on players from the stands, booing of the US National Anthem IN California, Donovan trying to be tripped by that clown keeper after he scored a few years ago, and on and on and on.

    Spare me your idiotic comments AJ.

    Reply

Leave a Comment