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USMNT-Mexico friendly set for April 2 in Phoenix

Omar Gonzales Javier Chicharito Hernandez

by IVES GALARCEP

The long-rumored friendly between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico is now official, with the final details finally emerging on Thursday.

U.S. Soccer formally announced the match on Thursday, setting up the latest installment in the heated rivalry. The game will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. on April 2.

“We are going to be watching our players very carefully before making final decisions on the roster for the World Cup, so this will be a great benchmark to see where they are at and how they compete against our biggest rivals,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “Games against Mexico are always special for the players and for the fans. We expect that it will be an amazing atmosphere in Phoenix with supporters for both teams, and it’s great to have an opportunity to play before the start of the World Cup. You couldn’t ask for a better experience to help with our preparations.”

The match is not being played on an international fixture date, so it will feature players from MLS and Liga MX, which would still make it an appealing match-up for both sides given the number of domestic players both national teams are using these days.

The meeting will be the first between the teams in Phoenix since the U.S. team’s 2-0 victory over ‘El Tri’ on Feb. 7, 2007. Jimmy Conrad and Landon Donovan scored the goals on that memorable day, which saw an undermanned U.S. team pull off a slight upset against a full-strength Mexico side in front of a strongly pro-Mexico crowd.

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What do you think of this development? See the U.S. posting another 2-0 victory?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. This is the stupidest idea ever. Why play a meaningless game, with rivalry ties, right before the world cup? The chances for injury just went up two fold and if you lose, the psychological effect is damaging. Why? Why? Why would you want to pick an opponent like this and right before the world cup? Dumb! Mark my words, at least one starting 11 player gets knocked with a dumb injury in this game.

    Reply
    • Completely disagree with you. Stop being such a chicken; scared to lose to Mexico in a friendly. You should relish another chance to beat Mexico again. Also, any games prior to thr World Cup are good practice for a team that rarely gets together. Plus you are forgetting that this isn’t a Fifa date, and Mexico is your best bet when it comes to finding a World Cup team that can put a strong team together on a non-Fifa date. Players are more likely to get injured in this game vs another just because it’s Mexico?? Laughable.

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      • Scared? Chicken? How does that have anything to do with me? Im not playing the game and I have nothing to do with if we play it or not so I dont know how I could be scared. If you are talking about me personally, I played my club ball in Houston so I have never been afraid of playing cheap/reckless Mexican teams. Not sure I follow your statement. I realize it wont be all of our top players, but why play a game with that type of extra, reckless physicality right before WC? That and the fact that they have zero in common with our round robin opponents.

      • I agree, I don’t really see what the US gets out of this. Hopefully we’ll just put together a group of fringe players just to see how they’ll do. I think I’d like to see a line up like this.
        Wondo Gomez
        Magee Gil Corona
        Beckerman
        Castillo Parkhurst Goodson Yedlin
        Rimando
        Don’t really care about the result, just a last shot for some guys.

  2. Mexico is having very good friendlies and I guess USA will take the same teams as Mexico.
    I’m a fan of both national teams, but Mexico is gonna have a very good team and USA as well but kilnsi will not be able break through group of death 🙁
    I have mexico reaching the semifinal and USA home after getting massacred in the group of death.

    Reply
    • If Mexico makes it out of the group they’ll meet either Spain or the Netherlands in the round of 16. You really think they have any chance against either? They’ll have to play a lot better then they did in the Hex just to get by Cameroon and Croatia. I hope all the Concacaf teams represent the region well but just getting out of the group would be a big accomplishment for Mexico at this point.

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  3. Anyone else kind of feel the rivalry is dead? I just have to think a lot of raw emotion has been taken out it. The only thing that will be kind of interesting to look for is if any Mexican player actually go and thank Zusi.

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    • No, The team that has lost the most games in the last 5 or 6 between USA-Mexico is always ready to treat the game like the most important rivalry in the world and is out to prove the recent spate of losses was just a run of bad luck. Historically, there was a long stretch when the USA could not beat Mexico anywhere, then a run where each team could win only win at home, then Mexico won a few in a row, then the USA won a few in a row. There are more than enough players old enough to appreciate this rivalry. All it will take for this board to light up with comments is the next Mexican win over the USA, with that no one will doubt the rivalry is alive and well.

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      • Sure the teams have traded wins back in forth in the past but nothing has ever played out like that end to the Hex. Sure the rivalry could be renewed in the future but I think it’ll be rather muted at least until sometime after the World Cup.

    • mexican players don’t really seem to care about the USMNT and this generation aren’t as antipathic as Blanco or Marquez were back in the day.

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    • I don’t think the rivalry is as heated on the pitch as it was during the early 2000s or the 90s but as the fans still hate each other.

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  4. The only reason to do this is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ a certain sellout in an ‘away’ home match.

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  5. i believe this conflicts with the CCL semifinals, so some will depend on who makes it. but my 23 (sorry, i had to) would be:

    G: Rimando, Johnson, Hamid
    D: Omar, Besler, Parkhurst, Castillo, Yedlin, Goodson, Orozco, Beasley
    M: Beckerman, Zusi, Gil, LD, Dempsey, Feilhaber, Bradley, Corona
    F: Gomez, Arriola, Wondo, EJ

    chances are Magee is included given JK said he would get another chance. yes, i left Evans off. this is my 23, and i’m ready to move on. obviously a guy like Edu could easily push someone out as well. unfortunately for Torres, he needs more playing time to be considered.

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  6. “Jimmy Conrad and Landon Donovan scored the goals on that memorable day, which saw an undermanned U.S. team pull off a slight upset against a full-strength Mexico side in front of a strongly pro-Mexico crowd.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCTVtw_fq4I

    ^^^Good ol’ Jimmy!!! Glad to see another tuneup game before Brazil, and chance for Jurgen to fine tune the selection of the North American players. Clock is counting down for summer boys!!!

    Reply
  7. O/T but what i don’t get is how Fulham couldn’t offer Dempsey more than 40 K a week but they brought in Berbatov whose wages were like 80-90 K a week?’

    CONFUSED I AM

    Reply
    • Seen Dempsey play lately? $40K a week for what? Back up to Seattle…$6.5 million for what? Not a fan of Berbatov, but to bash him vs Dempsey is like telling the person in the mirror how ugly they are.

      Reply
      • Actually I kinda agree with Wonder about Berbatov. He was old and known for being a bit um less than hardworking. Its basically like giving Adebayor a big contract. There is less than a 50% chance he will actually be effective.

  8. Since this is in PHX, will have 8-10K USMNT supporters and 50K El Tri supporters.

    Over/under set at 4K Chicharito jerseys, 3K dos Santos jerseys, 1.5K pinata hats and 352 “Chicharito Te Amo” signs.

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  9. why isn’t it on a international FIFA recognized date? I suppose it’s just for the $$$$$$

    might consider going. anyone know how much a bus/plane ticket to Phoenix from LA is?

    Reply
    • Damn, if only there was this network of computers, connected throughout the world, where you could type in questions such as the above to find out information….I feel like we could make thousands, neigh, MILLIONS off of such an incredible system, we could call it….the Interweb!

      Reply
    • It should be a match to gauge the MLS players in season form just like the Ukraine friendly is to gauge the European players in season form and make top dollar

      Reply
    • You are either amazingly ignorant, or amazingly lazy. You are actually using an internet connected computer while you ask that question. Sad thing is that your vote counts as much as mine.

      Reply
    • Neither will be playing in this game. And … This is about the eighth time in the last week we have had to see this pointless question. Get a life.

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      • It’s a bot. I wonder if one of ives’ advertisers employs these tactics to drive up commenting activity.

        I dont know I’m not good with conspiracy theories. Where’s biff at he’ll beef it up.

    • Expect a BIG Mexican fan turnout.Mexico has played several friendlies there against other opponenets and have drawn well and even sold out on more than a few occasions.

      With Bradley,Dempsey, Donovan and the Mexican contigent, we are only missing the GK’s and a few of the Bundesliga members )Jones, Johnson, so I feel pretty confident in the US chances. By then most of the MLS players will have has a few MLS games under their belt.

      I am from the southern part of AZ but I’ll be there.

      Reply
      • True, i know we arent gonna blow them out. But i am feeling confident towards at least a tie. Also hopefully hercules gomez gets a call up

    • Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Besler, Gonzalez, Evans, Beasley, Beckerman, EJ, Zusi, Rimando…..9 players who are currently in line for minutes in Brazil + 3rd GK.
      Bench: Goodson, Edu, Gomez, Wondo, Yedlin, Gil….trying to push for spots or next cycle.

      Reply

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