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USA-Mexico Countdown: Guardado out six weeks

Andres Guardado (Reuters) 

If Mexico is going to defeat the U.S. national team in their World Cup qualifier in Columbus on Feb. 11, 'El Tri' will have to do so without their most dangerous player.

Mexican winger and Deportivo La Coruna standout Andres Guardado is set to miss six weeks after suffering a ruptured tendon in his left leg during Depor's 5-0 smashing by Barcelona on Saturday.

Guardado won't be alone on the Mexico sidelines. Arsenal striker Carlos Vela is already set to miss the match due to a red card suspension while Nery Castillo may or may not have to miss the match due to cobwebs forming around his body now that he has gone what seems like a calendar year without playing (though he has returned to Shakhtar Donetsk and could finally see some playing time soon).

With Pavel Pardo having returned to Mexico, Rafael Marquez battling injuries and Giovani Dos Santos on the sale rack at Tottenham, you have to wonder just what kind of shape Mexico will be in when it takes the field at Crew Stadium on Feb. 11. Losing Guardado suddenly puts a major dent into an already hobbled attack.

What do you think of this development? Are you more worried about Mexico coming into the USA match as a short-handed underdog than as its usual overconfident self? Are you starting to think that we might be in for a USA romp at Crew Stadium? How many more injuries have to happen before Sven recalls Cuauhtemoc Blanco? Think Sven is wishing he had locked up Jose Francisco Torres when he had the chance?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Why shouldn’t Mexico get seeded number one in the region?? After last World Cup and the Copa America it seems like the US is only good against Mexico. They are going to get ripped to shreds in the Confederations Cup…I doubt they score at all.

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  2. Settle down, Nico.

    I think Mexico is talented. Way too talented to play like they did under Lavolpe, and in the “El Matador” days.

    Vela, Pardo, Salcido, Marquez, Nery, Guardado, Ochoa are a joy to watch… seriously.

    But, far too often, I’ve seen Mexico play like a hack central American side (like El Salvador or Guatemaula) when the chips are down. Diving after a stiff breeze, and taking any cheap shot they could.

    I think Sanchez’s attempted cheap shot at Eddie Johnson after Donovan’s goal in the Arizona ’06 game is a PERFECT example of this.

    If Mexico would stop believing that they’re just as good as Argentina or Brazil (which they just aren’t) and played with as much heart as they had talent, they would be really, REALLY tough to handle.

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  3. “I personally think we’ll see a return to the hacking and diving that we used to see from Mexico in years past…I would not be at all surprised to see a PK awarded early, and the US down to 10 men around the 60-65 minute mark.” – EA

    Wow, talk about making excuses and conspiracy theories a bit early.
    Should be a good game regardless of what players are available…though it’d be nice to see both sides at full strength.

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  4. Well, US fans are very confident (bordering on cocky) and it will be fun to watch everyone around here $hit themselves if Mexico wins/ties.

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  5. I suspect that the injury problems for Mexico will in the end help both sides. While it makes the game easier for the US and qualification as a whole easier, it also makes the US large favorites and puts the pressure on them. To make a good run in the World Cup the US will need to be able to handle high pressure games. Being able to handle teams that you are should beat is also needed, US teams always seems to have one World Cup game that is easier than the others and they have a history of blowing that game in embarrassing fashion.

    But for Mexico, if they can find some other players who have the mental toughness to step up when other stars are out then that is a tremendous help to their hopes of making a long run in South Africa. If Mexico can’t handle the US and breeze through qualifying then they aren’t good enough to get out of their World Cup group. Same for the US, but on recent form Mexico is clearly trailing the US. But adversity can be very good for making teams better. If Mexico can find those players who really step up and embrace the pressure situations, and if they come together as a team because of adversity, then they set themselves up well for when their stars are healthy going into 2010.

    If this game turns out to be a good quality, hard-fought game then both teams can benefit. If the US comes out with no energy under the pressure and Mexico looks like a reserve team that lacks the killer instinct then both teams can plan for a quick World Cup exit.

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  6. As others have mentioned, Mexico plays better in the underdog role. I’m nervous about this game. Vela and Guardado are the “midfield machine” of Mexico but Mexico has plenty of depth and their reserve players WILL step it up a notch.

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  7. I take a great amount of personal pleasure when any member of the Mexican National Team gets severly injured. What an excellent bit of news to start the day.

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  8. Dempsey is in great form with Fulham.
    Landon may be realizing his potential at Bayern, and he always get’s up for Mexico.
    Jozy is itching to break out.
    Bocanegra and Gooch are super solid in the back, not to mention Timmy is an awesome keeper.

    We are deeper in every position then we ever have been.

    Mexico will be lucky if we don’t score 4 goals.

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  9. BB will never let the MNT get over confident. That is just not going to happen. The Mexican team that goes out on the field on Feb.11 will lack unity. This is one to the criticisms the Mexican media has addressed (not enough playing time together, plus inured players). The Mexican team is a mess right now. They will be missing about 5 big players and maybe more. Plus, playing on the road and in the cold, where they have never won before, will make it difficult for the Mexicans to get a result. If the U.S. strikes early, it will be all USA. If the U.S. is in good form and they stick to their game plan, I cannot see them losing.

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  10. BB will never let the MNT get over confident. That is just not going to happen. The Mexican team that goes out on the field on Feb.11 will lack unity. This is one to the criticisms the Mexican media has addressed (not enough playing time together, plus inured players). The Mexican team is a mess right now. They will be missing about 5 big players and maybe more. Plus, playing on the road and in the cold, where they have never won before, will make it difficult for the Mexicans to get a result. If the U.S. strikes early, it will be all USA. If the U.S. is in good form and they stick to their game plan, I cannot see them losing.

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  11. It was the referees and we had players injured and it was cold and their didn’t allow us to do what we wanted during the match….just starting the list for the Mexicans….with that said though, I still think they may surprise…just when you think they’re in trouble- they bounce right up…

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  12. I personally think we’ll see a return to the hacking and diving that we used to see from Mexico in years past. I was pleasantly surprised that this was (for the most part) absent in the friendly in Houston last year.

    I would not be at all surprised to see a PK awarded early, and the US down to 10 men around the 60-65 minute mark.

    Unless we can arrange to NOT have a CONCACAF referee.

    Regardless of who shows up for El Tri, the US better be sharp, and ready to take care of business. There is still a darn good GK, and a good bit of skill in the players that remain at the other end of the field.

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  13. Prediction – They will put everyone behind the ball, play great D and try to counter-attack.

    They will do this (and I really hate typing this) and the game will end up tied at 1-1.

    Reply

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