By FRANCO PANIZO
Mexico may still be alive in World Cup qualifying thanks to the U.S. Men’s National Team, but reaching next summer’s prestigious tournament now falls squarely on El Tri’s shoulders.
The beginning of the end of Mexico’s troubled and forgettable 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign is set to get underway on Wednesday afternoon, as El Tri host New Zealand in the first match of their two-legged playoff series at Estadio Azteca. The Mexicans are favored to secure qualification to Brazil, but the same was believed of them at the start of the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying before relying on a late come-from-behind U.S. win over Panama to avoid a disastrous elimination on the final round of matches in the region.
Questions still abound for the Mexico, who is under the guidance of its fourth head coach in the past two months in Miguel Herrera and whose squad is filled with only domestic-based players. How will an El Tri team whose mental psyche has become the subject of intense criticism fare against a New Zealand side with nowhere near as much pressure is chief among those questions and one that Mexico will be hoping to answer positively.
El Tri will be playing the first match of the series in their famed Estadio Azteca, but the stadium has recently resembled a house made of straw or wood ready to be blown down at any given moment more than the fortress that it has built a reputation on.
During the last round of qualifying. Mexico struggled to score goals, much less win, at home and that should give New Zealand more than enough confidence as they step into a hostile environment. The All Whites are unlikely to go toe to to with an El Tri side that knows it has been given a golden opportunity to rid of all its past troubles, but a defend-and-counter approach could work, especially if Mexico once again struggle to break down its opponent.
It is up to the Mexicans now to find a way, any way, to reach the 2014 World Cup. They have fumbled precious opportunities time and again this year, but a victory at home on Wednesday would likely erase those thoughts for the mean time while also moving them closer to the direction they want to be in.
—–
What do you think of Mexico’s series vs. New Zealand? Who do you see winning the World Cup berth? How do you see the game at Azteca playing out?
Share your thoughts below.
I think Chicharito is playing for NZ as the right winger.
It was ‘Bertos’, upon a close up maybe t’s Chicharito’s father.
Mexico 2 Nz 0 … New Zealand is having a tough game…
This game is awful…did NZ bring their rugby players?
Mexico don’t deserve to play WC, but New Zealand need to give more to avoid that.
New Zealand is defending much deeper than “bunkering”. Realistically, we’re much deeper, somewhere around Moria.
Thanks god we didn’t face Uruguay
No match thread? I can’t be the only lazy ### watching this on my couch!
If New Zealand wanted to start with a haka here, I would not be opposed. Add some flare to the proceedings.
I am at work, and I have a ton of work today, but I will sure as hell be keeping an eye on this game. May it go better than the last WCQ playoff match we Yanks were all paying attention to…
DECIDED TO WEAR ALL BLACK TO THE OFFICE TODAY……TWO REASONS-1) TO SUPPORT THE ALL BLACKS, 2) AS MOURNING FOR ALL THE MEXICAN FANS WHO WILL BE KILLING BOTTLES OF TEQUILA TONIGHT!!!!
Didn’t realize all caps was on, till it was too late….sorry
Its the All Whites. The All Blacks are the Kiwi rugby team.
Rainy and cold…not the conditions Mexico were hoping for
I gotta bad feeling if Mexico ends up qualifying for WC 2014. Does anyone know when the absolutely positively earliest meeting of the USMNT and Mexico could take place? In WC 2002 it was the round of 16. But in looking at World Cups after that, it appears that a first meeting between Concacaf teams now could only take place in the quarter-finals. Is that right?
I accept that it’s better for the region if Mexico qualifies. However, if they lose there will be a big smile on my face.
Today we are all Mexicanos.
You mispelled Kiwi
OVER MY DEAD BODY
All Whites!
Man that sounded way racist, my b.
I believe the NZ soccer team is the “All Whites” becasue the NZ rugby team is the “All Blacks” — both because of their uniforms.
I am so torn about this… On the one hand, i absolutely despise El Tri with all my heart and want to see an entire nation burn those hideous green jerseys in the streets of Mexico when their beloved team flames out. On the other hand, it can’t be good for CONCACAF, and ultimately USMNT, to only send 3 teams to Brazil 2014.
although rafa marquez’ name on the roster makes me lean hard toward wanting mexico to flame out…
Yes, buuuuuut….. I think just one time in world football it’d be funny if Mexico didn’t make it to the World Cup. At least for us. It’d be the greatest joke of all time for a Yanks fan…
I don’t think CONCACAF is in any position to need to worry about it. When you realize that Asia gets 5 spots in the world cup and have some of the worst teams in the world, I wouldn’t be worried about CONCACAF clout.
Is the game televised?
It’s on ESPN.
ESPN
Damn you, dcpohl!
‘…the stadium has recently resembled a house made of straw or wood…’
— or jello.
— or cookie dough.
— or play-dough.
— Any kind of dough!
Mmmm…. Azteca-shaped cookie dough wad.
OM NOM NOM NOM!!!!
So wish Winston Reid wasn’t injured. What a blow to the Kiwis, especially since their whole strategy would have been around bunkering here in Azteca.
I didn’t even realize he was out. Jeez. There goes any minuscule chance they had.
Sorry, but this match is fixed. There is over 600 million dollars riding on Mexico making the World Cup.
There is no chance they lose. If they’re down, look for dubious penalties, ejections, and other nonsense.
C.R.E.A.M.
“C.R.E.A.M.”
… and for the acronymically (yes, i just made that up) unacquainted…?
Cash
Rules
Everything
About
Me
I’m old enough to remember when it was new.
It’s “Around” Me bro.
Minor quibble.
CREAM get the money, dollar dollar bill y’all!
Wow, Can’t believe CREAM is 20 years old.
What Jacknut said.
Song from ’93 by Wu-Tang. Method man on the hook.
I’ll believe it… except that it would’ve been so much easier to make it happen in Costa Rica. And the USA-Panama match appeared well officiated (except for the non-foul yellow that went the wrong way for a Mexico conspiracy) and absolutely, totally unpredictable.
I mean, the referee better be from Norway or Pakistan and have secure transportation back to the airport, of course, but aside from that it oughta be a good match. Play ball!
I hear they are flying you in special!
How do you think I know? Duh. I’m wearing a costume.
Mexico’s new coach is hilarious looking. He looks like a cross between Barney Rubble and Captain Caveman. Can’t help but crack up anytime that dude pops up on the screen.
lol, you should see the cartoons made of him.. laugh after laugh… and his nickname “El Piojo” when he was an Atlante player he had real big guts though http://msn.mediotiempo.com/carton.php?id_carton=6043
Vamos Mexico a ganarmos! Damn, but I love the Land of the Long White Cloud as well…
“It’s better for the region if Mexico wins, and …”
Sure, but how sweet would it be if we gave Mexico their one shot to make the WC Finals, and then they CHOKE?!
I think every U.S. fan would have a duty to make sure that they could never live it down…
We would wear all white to all games against mexico. Only color would be a black # Dos on the front. Black # Cero on the back.
love the first line Franco! wish this wasnt in the afternoon so I could watch.
+1 best opener this year!
The game is on Watch ESPN at 3:15 PM so you can start it anytime after that.
Let’s go Kiwis!
IN ROJAS WE TRUST