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Why You Should Care About US vs. Mexico

by Sean Heffernan

While the United States Men's National Team was in the throes of the Confederations Cup earlier this summer I remember driving across the Midwest from Columbus to Chicago and listening to the "The Herd" hosted by Colin Cowherd and ESPN 1000 as I passed cornfield after cornfield. ...It was right after the the US defeated Egypt and somehow advanced to the second round of the tournament to face the #1 ranked team in the world. To my surprise Cowherd was actually talking about US Soccer. Despite the miracle win against the Pharaohs, the ESPN talk show host did not give the Americans a shot in hell in defeating Spain and went on to talk mostly about how soccer will never be important in our country. Of course things went quite different and the US pulled off the historic upset over Spain before almost winning our country's first international tournament in the final against Brazil 3-2.

I turned on the television today and Colin Cowherd was interviewing Landon Donovan on SportsNation. Cowherd called Donovan his new man crush and said that he remodeled his basement for the US vs. Mexico game tomorrow (4 PM ET on MUN 2, check your local listings). The ESPN analyst went on to apologize for everything he said negatively on his show over the years about US Soccer and that he was now a converted fan.

Not the soccer movement in America was hinging on one radio/T.V. personality's allegiance, but it is indicative of the new consciousness America is gaining of international soccer. All summer European clubs like AC Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Barcelona have been selling out stadiums in pre-season tours of America. Unlike any other sport soccer unites countries. I was in Rome when Italy won the World Cup in 2006 and I can tell you that the joy in the Italian people that night was something truly indescribable. In the Ivory Coast when their national team advanced out of the group stage of the World Cup in 2006 it stopped a civil war. Soccer truly is the world's game. It's about time the US became a world leader in it.

As for the rivalry between Mexico and the United States it's becoming one of the best in sports. American media is becoming more aware of the long history between the two countries' national teams therefore only now is the game being visible in mainstream sports. The political aspects of the game cannot be ignored as America and Mexico have become two nations deeply embedded in each other. I attended the double header Gold Cup semifinal in Chicago where the US defeated Honduras 2-0 and Mexico beat Costa Rica on penalties in Soldier Field.It was interesting to see people waving both US and Mexico flags and see the divisions within families as some family members wore red, white, and blue while others donned the red, white, and green.

The United States and Mexico will face each other Wednesday in a crucial World Cup Qualifier inside Mexico City's Estadio Azteca with a lot on the line. The Americans will have a another oppurtunity to make history this summer by winning for the first time in Azteca. As for Mexico, this is a must win game, because if they lose, qualifying for next year's World Cup will become much more difficult for El Tri. Any defeat to the Americans at home would be a national tragedy in Mexico. Expect an atmosphere unlike anything you've ever seen tomorrow evening. Skip out of work early or set your DVR. Games this special don't come around too often.

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