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Mexico: A study of grit and determination
Posted: Thursday June 25, 1998 07:20 PM
Outside of host France, Mexico has been
the most exhilarating team to follow in these World Cup finals.
Mexico has trailed in each of its group games, and yet has stormed back to
take at least a point in every one of them. First Mexico trailed
1-nil to South
Korea, but went on to win 3-1. Then they were down 2-nil to
Belgium, but
clawed their way to a 2-2 draw. And finally, but most memorably,
they stunned the highly-rated Dutch with two second half goals to pull back
yet another two-goal deficit on Thursday. Holland plays some
divine soccer, but its always been said of them that they can crumble under
pressure ... and Mexico supplied plenty of that in the last 20 minutes or
so. Holland, one of the pre-tournament favorites, paid the price
for sitting back on its 2-0 lead as Mexico pulled one back through
substitute striker Ricardo Palaez, then snatched an equalizer deep into
injury time from Luis Hernandez. The point ensured Mexico's passage
into the last 16 as the second-placed finisher in Group E. Holland was
ahead of them only on goal difference. Mexican progression seemed a
pipe dream before the finals, their build-up had been so distinctly awful.
But the spark of confidence they gained from that opening win
against a 10-man South Korea team turned into a minor blaze in the second
half against Belgium and was a raging, roaring fire by the time the second
half against Holland came around. And it's been a delight to
watch. They've supplied some of the most enjoyable moments of France 98.
One can't fail but to pull for them. Next up for mighty Mexico, who
could barely compete with a club side three weeks ago, are Germany.
That will evoke memories of the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals in Mexico,
when Germany won on penalties en route to the final. What price
revenge? Judging by the determined nature of Mexico's continued fight
backs, a pretty good price I'd say.
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