By TRAVIS CLARK
Mexico wrapped up its pre-World Cup friendly schedule with a confident 2-1 win over defending champions Italy in Belgium on Thursday.
Goals from Carlos Vela and Alberto Medina were enough as Mexico trotted out a starting XI that will most likely take the field during next Friday's World Cup opener against South Africa. On the other side, Italy was playing only its second friendly of 2010, and could only grab a late consolation goal through Leonardo Bonucci in the game's dying minutes.
The Italians had spent the past week doing high altitude training in the Alps, and will have one more friendly on June 5 against Switzerland before taking off for South Africa.
Take a look at the goals after the jump:
What do you think about the result? Is it a sign of good things to come for Mexico?
Share your thoughts below.
LOL Mexico wona friendly against a team who hasn’t had any but 1 game in. Mexico didn’t outplayed England,Holland,Italy. These teams can care less for midfield possesion. These are team that beat you in the counter attack or in the air. Physical presense is their game. England 3-1 is familiar to the U.S. We do that to mexico all the time. They run all over the field passing the ball 10000 times, bouncing their cute long hair and what not, and all of sudden, BAAMMMMM!!.. a Donovan goLAZO AZO AZO AZO!:) Just plain and simple. Possesion doesn’t mean crap. Just ask Bayer Munich or Santos.
Where were all these Mexican fans when the England & Holland game were over. Not here, that’s for sure. MExican NT supporters are funny. When their team looses, their all crying at home nagging over “Futbol Picante” and why these bastards need to choke themsleves. When they win, they are all over UNIVISION forums, Telemundo Forums,ESPNDEPORTES,SOCCERBYIVES,etc… You guys are funny! 80+ YEars of soccer histoy, and you finally win a game against a rusty Italian team in a friendly. WOOHOO!! Si se puede!lol
For those saying let’s support Concacaf teams, WTFUDGE? That’s like me rooting for the St.Louis Cardinals,Whitesox,Packers! .. little respect please!
Calmado PAPA! Mexico has always been a great touch futbol team, everyone in concacaf knows it. But everyone also knows that passing around the ball 1000000 times doesn’t get the ball in the net. And for the Mexican NT, that has always been the story. Italy today played their first game, if I’m not mistaken, after a nice vacation. Mexico has been playing since January!lol
Even a rusty Italian team which hasn’t had many games in, almost tied it up at the very end of the game!LOL
80+ years of Mexican soccer history, and in 2010 the Mex NT finally win a game against a rusty ITALIAN team in a friendly. Woohoo!
England, Holland,Italy,Germany, U.S, all have the same style of play. They don’t need 80% ball possesion to win games, they have proven that. I’m tired of people saying Mexico out played these teams. England & Italy can care less for midfield possesion. They beat you in the air and with physical presence.
Wait until the Uruguay vs Mexico game, similar styles.
Don’t come to a U.S forum and expect everyone to keep silent. That’s like me going over to a Giants forum and yapping over my Cowboys! It’s just retarded not to expect some sort of PWND.:)
Jealous? Yeah, that’s it. The most powerful sport country in the world is jealous over a mexican friendly.lol
Take a wild guess.
Why would I be jealous of someone that finished beneath us?
I wouldn’t deny the blatant fact, Mexico is capable of playing beautiful football but to say I’m ” jealous ” is amusing as it is unrealistic.
It’d be fair to say I’m “jealous” of established countries that achieve actual results, not established countries that are nothing more than hollow figments of delusional grandeur.
That distinction, should be quite obvious.
Not to take anything away from Mexico’s performance but did I read it correctly that mexico had 24 fouls called on them?
If true, this is something that will haunt them in the WC
Mexico looks good but Italy looked all sorts out of shape, not in form and aging.
It doesn’t seem as if the Italian side is really worried at all and they sound as if they are experimenting with different formations. At least from what I have read.
Mexico, like the U.S., is a good, not-great, team. They have talent but also some weaknesses. When they have a good coach, good match-ups, and some good luck they are successful if not they are just okay.
I feel like a combination of the pressure and conflicting styles means El Tri does not play at its best against the U.S. If they are allowed to play their style they can be quite dangerous. The question is will their younger players handle the pressure well…as everyone has mentioned the finishing was terrible today that could definitely come back to bite them.
On a random note, I could see Giovanni having an impressive tournament…he has looked good with the national team even when they were playing terrible in the qualifiers.
No, I am not rooting for the wrong team. It USA all the way. I do like England,however.
Exactly. When our secondary power is good enough to take down one of Europe’s best in Europe, it is good for the region as a whole.
For each of those stories, I could tell an opposite one. Here’s one: When I was watching last year’s Gold Cup final in downtown San Francisco because I was locked out of my house with no money, I went to a local bar that is really a Mexican bar (i.e. one for Mexicans) because it was the only place that would be showing the game and though I spoke no Spanish and most people spoke no English there, the Mexican supporters bought me like four beers and gave me all sorts of stuff from their barbecue for free. This was before the US imploded in the second half as well. Yeah, some Mexicans are idiots. So are some Americans. Choose what you focus on.
Why would you hate the USMNT? Don’t you live in the U.S.?
Hey Christian…where do you live?
Exactly. I hate the Mexicans in CONCACAF. They’re bastards, but they’re our bastards. I want them to do well in world competitions because it does make us better and challenges us.
im sorry but the US squad you mentioned is crap lol… im pretty sure they’re better players… we better hope there is!
cheers???? you’re rooting for the wrong team buddy… your team is England (now, at least you have a better chance of doing better in the WC)… aren’t you glad someone told you before the WC got underway… you owe me one!
I guess it does. Thanks Jigga.
Ummm Frank I think they will be good, but that depends on what knucklehead the FMF decides to hand the reigns to?
As for dominating, well there are some young USA players like Davies, Lletget, Gil, Ream, Cruz, Navas-Cobo (might of mispelled his name plays for Dynamo).
I can’t remember how to spell their names but also the guy who got drafted by Philly McCinelry or something and also the kid at Braga. I’m sure I’m forgetting another 2 kids at European teams but don’t count Mexico’s success just yet!
I’d like to buy Miguel a Cerveza!
Mexico played well but they need to learn how to put those goals away, WC play brings about a much tight and competitive level of play, and the pressure some of these untested “young guns” will have could easily turn into the demise of “El Tri” if they don’t turn sitters into goals at the WC like the ones Hernandez have missed in their series of friendlies.
It actually does help us. Berths in the World Cup are determined to some extent according to the showing by each region in previous world cups.
Mexico definitely looks better than the USMNT right now. Anyone paying attention would know that. They just beat Italy with a mostly under 22 year old team. Mexico will dominate CONCACAF next cycle with Gio, Vela, Chicharo, Guardado, Juarez, Jona, and Moreno.
What??? Mexico is now the favorite to win the World Cup! It’s a lock! El Tri will hoist the cup! Please stop with your jealousy and realize the truth.
Right with you Miguel.
By the way, it is , “yes” and not “no”
Yes, I do speak Italian and 3 other langauges- thank you. We will not talk again because Mexico will not even win a game HAAAAA!!!!!
mexico and uruguay will advance
[From a Mexican fan] It was a very fun game to watch. The extended camp definitely helped, and the team showed impressive chemistry. To be honest, I did not expect the new young guys (Juarez, Barrera, Aguilar) to be that good. They have really stepped up, even benching wonderkid Guardado. Just a friendly, but they showed good touch on the ball and good teamwork.
Thanks to all the US fans that root for El Tri in the World Cup. To be honest, I was a long time hater of the USMNT until I started reading this blog and Grant Wahl’s stories. I am impressed by the dedication and heart of a a lot of your players. Dempsey who grew up playing with Latinos, DeMerit and his amazing journey, the team doing the stanky leg as a tribute to Davies… I’ll be rooting for the US in every game unless they (perish the thought, I’d be dead nervous) play Mexico.
as far as i’m concerned, our biggest rivals are england algeria and slovenia, then most likely germany, then most likely argentina, then most likely spain, then most likely brazil. if we meet mexico along the way great, but until then i wish them luck and admire their exploits.
Mexico will not get out of their group, period.
uruguay and mexico will advance.
uh oh….time to break out those voodo dolls.
Thank you K-Town and if you live in K-Town we live in the same neighborhood.
What I find amazing is that the ones that “hate” Mexico the most are those with hispanic names. From my experience many south and central americans “hate” Mexico just as many Mexicicans “hate” the US.
Give credit where is due; the only way the US will improve is if Mexico get better.
+1 …. I HATE!! them more then another national team, everything about them rubs me the wrong way
Let me also point out that Mexico is playing like they’re in the 2nd or 3rd round of the Cup, whereas we’re worried about how we’re going to show up on Game 1.
Next cycle, if we’re healthy and deep (which, we’ll be deep, oh yeah), we should do a 7 game send-off series.
I’m all about CONCACAF getting better. I don’t care who plays. If a CONCACAF team plays a non CONCACAF team I want the CONCACAF team to win. It builds our FIFA coefficient rating up, and earns respect for our region. Having said that, you will never see me root for Mexico when games are played among CONCACAF teams. I would rather anyone from our region beat them. But I hope they beat everyone else in the WC so we can BEAT EM’ DOS A CERO IN THE FINALS!!!!
Mexico’s long, what is it, 7, 9, 20, game send-off series is paying off. I only got to watch to about the 41st minute this morning, then had to leave for work, but their chemistry was impressive. I saw the Vela goal, and a couple more shots that could have been.
I think it’s great. Would you seriously not want to have Mexico in CONCACAF and have the U.S. only play minnows? Mexico pushes us, and we push them, to earn two out of three spots, essentially. There’s only a little margin of error in CONCACAF qualifying.
The way Mexico is playing now, they’re definitely out of group play, for the 5th straight tournament. I’d like to see us hit that lofty goal in 2026, starting now.
I’ve been picking France, then Mexico to win Group A, with Mexico having the tough Opening Match, but…
In 2002, I was in a bar in Chicago at about midnight for the Mexico-USA Round of 16 game. The bar probably was about 50/50 USA/Mex supporters. The atmosphere was friendly between rivals, and when the USA was up 2-0 in the waning moments, I started up an “Ole, Ole, Ole,” chant that the whole USA contigent took up, which the Mexican supporters took with good-natured chagrin.
I WILL be rooting for the Tri-Color outside of USA games.
I would like to comment that even though I’m a Total U.S. fan, I really don’t care about any other national team but the U.S. Having said that, as much as I hate to say it, Mexico “Rocked” Italy. I know it was a friendly etc. etc. point is, they beat them bad. Give credit to where it’s due guys. common guys let’s be good sports.
ANYHOW…
Go USA!!!!!
I do know what I am talking about, Christian. The so called “prensa” always blows Mexican soccer up, making the Mexican people think that they are better than they really are. I lived in Mexico for many years before coming to the U.S. and the Mexicans always think they are going to win the World Cup. “Fútbol Picante” puts things in perspective. I doubt that you are Mexican any way. You are probably Mexican American and always will be a gringo to the Mexicans. Your Spanish is probably lousy too.
yeah…i dont know about you guys, but i was taught that Mexico are our enemies, that they spit on the american flag and people,that they threw glass beer bottles at me and the Americans present at last years Gold Cup finals, and even if they are doing well, i wouldnt give their team one bit of respect.
Its what i think they call…RIVALS ???
“I want them to represent CONCACAF well, but not get further in the tournament than us.”
That’s understandable but I rather not see them win one game- CONCACAF or not. For me they are our hated rivals, but it is purely fútbol (“sport”) and nothing else. The only way I would want Mexico to win a game is if it helped us in some way. Cheers
Ahhh… another one of Ives padawans
Ha! Funny thing is that Andres Cantor is also Argentinean.
Go CONCACAF? WTF is this nonsense?
I hate Mexico and Italy, so all I root for is injuries 😉
Good for Mayheeko… CoNcAcAf is going to mop the floor with these Europafricasians!
Exactly.
The Mexican press is not like the US press, they’re not cheerleaders, they don’t do puff pieces on the players, they don’t make excuses for a player’s performance if its not up to par.
John1 obviously has no idea what he’s talking about if he’s using Futbol Picante as his reference.
First of all La Gazzetta Dello Sport which is like the Italian sports Bible and represents the mood of the Tifosi did not consider it a meaningless friendly at all.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2010/03-06-2010/lippi-campanello-d-allarme-704249792909.shtml
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2010/03-06-2010/non-ancora-italia-mondiale-704245218378.shtml
Since you are such a know it all I expect you can read Italian? No?
Please show me any evidence of an excuse for Mexico’s losses against England or the Netherlands.
I expect that you won’t hide if Mexico gets more than 4 points in the WC, so that we can talk again.
And by the way, you may be surprised to know that the “meaningless friendly” expression you are using is a direct quote from the way Javier Aguirre described the game today!
I correct myself, I mean route? Sorry too tired and lazy to care how I spell or which word I use. I’m just happy a week from Saturday I will be in London “routing” for the good ‘ol USA against England. Of course if we are doing well I will be Canadian.
Holy S*!T, they’re wearing FG cleats in that picture. You almost never see that from pros in international competition. They are always in SG cleats.
And it’s Mexican happy hour-2-0.
Yes,just like the Mexicans wanted us to beat Germany in 2002.
I think I meant Root.
Jealous of the fact our defenders don’t have to boot the ball up the field any time an opposing player comes near them.
Jealous of the fact Mexico is tactically flexible.
Jealous of the fact that Mexico beat Italy with seven players under the age of 24.
Jealous of the fact that the US finished first in qualifying in 06 and still ended up in last place in their group with only one goal scored.
Yes, it’s quite obvious.