Mexico Arrives in Phoenix
By: John | February 6th, 2007
The amateur journalist in me cannot resist the symbolism of the latest incarnation of the Mexican National Team playing in Phoenix, as they rise from the ashes of the Ricardo La Volpe era. I have nothing against La Volpe, he was a good tactician, and definitely put his stamp on the national team. Unfortunately, his terse relationship with not only the press, but other icons of Mexican soccer, shrouded his tenure with controversy that he not only created, but also refused to diffuse. It all came crashing down for him that Saturday night in Leipzig, and the tri hasn’t seen the field since.
Enter the iconic Hugo Sanchez. Pick your nickname for him: Hugol, el niño de oro, el pentapichichi. The greatest Mexican player to have ever lived now has the opportunity to mold the team he loves the most in his image: an image of confidence, and a winning attitude. For years, Mexico had long been satisfied with just hanging with their opponents, content with losing with honor. The “ya merito (almost)” and “jugamos como nunca, y perdimos como siempre (played like never before, but lost like always)” as much a part of the fabric of Mexican soccer as Hugo’s bicycle kicks, Negrete’s goal vs. Bulgaria, and the Rebaño Sagrado. Those phrases will not be tolerated in the Sanchez regime. Hugo will try to instill the qualities that made him a great player to his team. Convince them that not only can they hang with Brazil, but they can beat them. It begins tomorrow against the team that is the biggest albatross around the neck of Mexican soccer: the gringos.
Mexico has not had a good run vs. the US lately. Obviously, the 2002 defeat in Jeonju was the most painful defeat, but the US has owned Mexico since 2000. In fact, Mexico has not scored a goal vs. the US on American soil in 7 matches so far this decade. The US is in Mexico’s head, and it will be Hugo’s first great test to see if he can kick them out.
Hugo called up a strong side to face the USA. Among his European expats is Nery Castillo. The Mexican born, Uruguayan raised, and Greek league forged forward. Castillo has 8 goals for Olympiakos in the Greek league, and he has bagged 3 more in Champions League play this year. Castillo gives Mexico something they haven’t had since Hugo was player: a european striker.
Hugo will play a 4-4-2, a change from the 5-3-2 his predecessor played, which is also a popular formation in the MFL. This change in formations is one of the reasons Hugo called up some of his former players: to help the other acclimate to the new formation.
Category: Mexico Football League
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