Mexico will kick off their Gold Cup campaign against El Salvador tomorrow and Rafael Marquez is already talking on tactics that will enable them a higher chance of retaining the title they won against the USA in 2009. He believes that they will need to implement the same brand of football they showcased two years ago.
Like for all of the participating nations at the upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa, this clash will serve as an important warm-up for the United States of America.
USA vs El Salvador: are Bradley's men ready?
Expectations on the US national soccer team are quite high ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
The 2009 Confederations Cup runners-up will first have to play against Algeria, Slovenia, and England before moving out from Group C where they’ve been casted.
So far, NOT so good… the USA played a friendly match against World Cup ticket holders Honduras in California back in January 2010; the outcome proved to be negative for the Yankees.
Firstly, they were reduced to ten men after 17 minutes. Then they fell to three Honduras goals before Clarence Goodson pulled a goal back as a consolation with 20 minutes of normal time remaining.
Los Catrachos will play El Salvador away in San Salvador and only a victory will give them the chance to claim the third spot in the unique group.
At the top of the table, the United States...
Los Catrachos will play El Salvador away in San Salvador and only a victory will give them the chance to claim the third spot in the unique group.
At the top of the table, the United States and Mexico have booked their tickets for the finals of the World Cup next summer.
At the foot of the standings, it is definitely all over for both Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador. Meanwhile, the battle in the middle of the table between...
The big deal is that El Tri have the chance of celebrating their passage into the finals of the World Cup in South Africa in front of their home fans.
Mexico analysis: Bad memories can be brushed away
Moments before El Tri restored their pride and fortress with the leadership of Javier Aguirre, the Mexicans played the first leg of this encounter.
At the end of all proceedings, the visitors Mexico were left shattered by a late penalty scored by El Salvador’s Quintanilla.
Bob Bradley’s men suffered the disappointment of missing out on the Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup titles earlier this summer.
Now how can they survive the anguish of missing out from the finals of the World Cup in South Africa?
The USA welcome El Salvador at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah on Saturday, September 5th as the World Cup campaign resumes this weekend.
This victory injected some much-needed fire to Honduras’ burning hopes of reaching the World Cup finals. They may well repeat this wonderful performance with a good result against La Selecta.
On paper, Honduras are tipped as favorites to win against El Salvador – who could only draw goalless on March 31st in a friendly match against a Jamaican side deprived of a real coach.
Honduras, who meet rampant side USA on June 6, will hope that this visit to the United States won’t exhaust them too much ahead of their qualifier against El Salvador at the Francisco Morazan Stadium.
Mexico have won only one match out of their last six World Cup qualifying games and they just can’t afford to slip again as their dream of reaching South Africa is hanging from a thread.
The 51-year-old Mexican is well known amongst his people for his success in guiding El Tri all the way to the 2001 Copa America final (where they unfortunately lost 1-0 to Colombia), and also to the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan.