The buildup is nearly over as the United States and Mexico prepare to again meet at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, with a Confederations Cup spot on the line.
PASADENA, Calif. — After two months of hype, and four years of recollecting the images of the last time the U.S. national team played Mexico at the Rose Bowl, the biggest game of the year in CONCACAF in finally ready to happen.
Mexico still carries the bragging rights in the venue where Saturday’s CONCACAF Cup will take place, but as impressive as its 4-2 win was against the U.S. four years ago, there have been six meetings between the archrivals since — and El Tri have not won (going 0-3-3 in those matches).
“We’ve already exorcised them,” U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said of any demons from 2011. “We’ve played them six times since then. This whole week has been about the hype of the last game here but there’s been six in between, so there’s nothing to exorcise.”
Saturday's CONCACAF Cup isn't about revenge — it's about much more. There are all the elements of the rivalry, and also the desire to help the U.S. re-establish itself as the top power in the region.
Mexico still carries the bragging rights in the venue where Saturday’s CONCACAF Cup will take place, but as impressive as its 4-2 win was against the U.S. four years ago, there have been six meetings between the archrivals since — and El Tri have not won (going 0-3-3 in those matches).
“We’ve already exorcised them,” U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said of any demons from 2011. “We’ve played them six times since then. This whole week has been about the hype of the last game here but there’s been six in between, so there’s nothing to exorcise.”
Saturday's CONCACAF Cup isn't about revenge — it's about much more. There are all the elements of the rivalry, and also the desire to help the U.S. re-establish itself as the top power in the region.
“I was very upset with what happened in the Gold Cup, very upset, but that’s in the past, it’s gone, it’s out the window,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “Now we have a sold-out crowd and we have a lot of guests coming in, that live here, but maybe wear their green jersey first. Hopefully by the end of the game, they pull that jersey off and have the red, white and blue underneath that.
“This is our goal. We want to win over a lot of our Mexican friends. We’ve won a lot of them over already in the last four or five years.”
“This is our goal. We want to win over a lot of our Mexican friends. We’ve won a lot of them over already in the last four or five years.”
The U.S. faces a Mexican side that enters the match in a state of flux. Miguel Herrera's firing as coach put a damper on El Tri's Gold Cup title, and the Mexican federation's delay in finding a replacement left the task of qualifying for the CONCACAF Cup to Tigres manager Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti.
Having an interim coach in charge of El Tri adds a bit of mystery to Saturday's match, but Klinsmann insisted he has a good idea of what Mexico will bring to the table.
“Both teams know each other so well,” Klinsmann said. “We know all the Mexican players. They know all the American players. (Ferretti) has a specific style. He’s a wonderful coach. I think when the game starts, both teams need to make sure they keep their nerves under control because there will be a tremendous amount of energy. That thing will rock you, and then go through the first part of the game.
"When things calm down, then we have an open game," Klinsmann said. "This is our hope. I think because of the energy in the stadium, and the fans and what they’re looking for, both teams will attack at the end of the day and go for goals, and hopefully we score a few more than they do.”
The 2011 Gold Cup final is remembered for Mexico's stirring comeback, but also for a Rose Bowl crowd dominated by Mexican fans. CONCACAF attempted to generate a more balanced crowd this time around using an elaborate ticket sales process designed to ensure more pro-USA fans were put in place, and U.S. Soccer officials are confident the American contingent will be significantly larger than in 2011.
“I think you’ll definitely see a shift,” Klinsmann said. “You can’t compare it to four years ago, here at the Gold Cup final, where it was probably 90 to 10. I think we’ll have huge, huge support (on Saturday).
“Then it all depends on how the game goes,” Klinsmann added. “You have to win your fans over. You have to play well and excite them. Once you hopefully get that feeling across to the crowd, and vice versa, special things can happen.”
"When things calm down, then we have an open game," Klinsmann said. "This is our hope. I think because of the energy in the stadium, and the fans and what they’re looking for, both teams will attack at the end of the day and go for goals, and hopefully we score a few more than they do.”
The 2011 Gold Cup final is remembered for Mexico's stirring comeback, but also for a Rose Bowl crowd dominated by Mexican fans. CONCACAF attempted to generate a more balanced crowd this time around using an elaborate ticket sales process designed to ensure more pro-USA fans were put in place, and U.S. Soccer officials are confident the American contingent will be significantly larger than in 2011.
“I think you’ll definitely see a shift,” Klinsmann said. “You can’t compare it to four years ago, here at the Gold Cup final, where it was probably 90 to 10. I think we’ll have huge, huge support (on Saturday).
“Then it all depends on how the game goes,” Klinsmann added. “You have to win your fans over. You have to play well and excite them. Once you hopefully get that feeling across to the crowd, and vice versa, special things can happen.”
The Americans will enter the match as slight underdogs because of their showing at the Gold Cup and the impressive form of several of Mexico's top players, but the U.S. team is an experienced group consisting of 15 members of the 2014 World Cup team.
It is an American team on the verge of a considerable transition, with several older players who could be playing in their final big U.S. match. That subplot should only help to offer even more spice to a match shaping up to be an all-time classic.
"These are special games. It’s always important to take a moment in weeks like this and take it all in because there will come a day when I’m not playing anymore, and you’ll miss this,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said. “For all of us, it’s something we don’t take lightly, to represent the national team, to play in games like this.
"I think you’ll see 11 guys, and a bunch more on the bench tomorrow whose performance show that in every way."
Mexico v USA: Six to Savor
The USA's Alejandro Bedoya (white jersey) and Andres Guardado of Mexico compete against each other in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, one of the most memorable games in the competition's history. (Photo: Mexsport)
PASADENA, California -- Passions are stirred on both sides of the border every time Mexico and the United States meet on a football field.
In 64 all-time games between them, the Tricolor holds a 32-19 advantage in wins. Since the introduction of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991, however, the rivalry has truly blossomed into one of the world’s most intense.
As the first-ever CONCACAF Cup draws near, the time is right to recall their classic clashes.
Here are six to savor:
1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Semifinals
July 5, 1991: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California, USA
United States 2, Mexico 0
In the inaugural Gold Cup, the USA shocked Mexico 2-0 on a pair of second-half goals. John Doyle (48’) and Peter Vermes (64’) found the back of the net, while goalkeeper Tony Meola recorded a shutout. The Bora Milutinovic-led Americans went on to lift the trophy, overcoming Honduras in the final on penalty kicks.
1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Final
July 25, 1993: Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico 4, United States 0
Mexico captured the first of its seven Gold Cup crowns in stunning fashion. A Gold Cup-record crowd of 130,800 witnessed the Tricolor seize a 2-0 halftime lead behind a tally by Ignacio Ambriz (11’) and an own-goal by Desmond Armstrong (30’). The host sealed the outcome as Luis Roberto Alves (70’) and Guillermo Cantu (79’) also netted.
1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, Semifinals
August 1, 1999: Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico 1, United States 0
Cuauhtemoc Blanco beat goalkeeper Kasey Keller to strike for a golden goal seven minutes into extra time, boosting Mexico into the final. Mexico custodian Jorge Campos registered the clean sheet. The Mexicans went on to defeat 1998 World Cup runner-up Brazil in the final, 4-3.
2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Final Round
February 28, 2001: Columbus Crew Stadium – Columbus, Ohio, United States
United States 2, Mexico 0
The Americans had already had lost their most dangerous scoring threat, Brian McBride, to a swollen eye, and their best playmaker, Claudio Reyna, was hobbling with a strained groin muscle. In McBride's place entered the four-time capped Josh Wolff, who became the unlikely hero of a spectacular triumph. He scored the first goal two minutes into the second half and set up the second — a late tally by Earnie Stewart (87’).
2002 FIFA World Cup, Round of 16
June 17, 2002: Jeonju World Cup Stadium – Jeonju, Korea Republic
United States 2, Mexico 0
In a rare all-CONCACAF confrontation at the World Cup, the USA prevailed in the pairing’s most important encounter. McBride (8’) and Landon Donovan (65’) each scored to propel the Americans into the quarterfinals against Germany.
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Final
June 25, 2011: Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California, USA
United States 2, Mexico 4
The old adage says that a 2-0 advantage is the most dangerous lead in football and Mexico proved it in front of 93,420 spectators. Michael Bradley (8’) and Donovan (23’) had put the Americans ahead, but the Tricolor roared in response. By halftime, it had equalized behind Pablo Barrera (29’) and Andres Guardado (36’), before Barrera (50’) struck again for a 3-2 lead. Giovani dos Santos (76’) added one of the greatest goals in Gold Cup history to punctuate the scoreline.
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