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Mexico hosts U.S

Home team favored in dramatic Confed Cup semifinal

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Posted: Sunday August 01, 1999 08:31 AM

U.S. defender C.J. Brown juggles the ball with his head while training in Mexico. AP

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) -- The Americans have everything going against them in Sunday's semifinal against Mexico: Less rest, less high-altitude training, a record of 0-15-1 at Azteca stadium and an expected crowd of 110,000 dead-set against them.

But adversity hasn't stopped this American team yet in the Confederations Cup as it has fought to earn the respect of the international soccer community with a close 1-0 loss to Brazil and a surprisingly easy 2-0 win over Germany.

"The home team has all the advantages -- playing at home, rest, altitude and, let's face it, the pressure's on Mexico to win this game," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.

That pressure could just be Mexico's weak spot, however. The Americans are the obvious underdogs, and that makes it Mexico's game to lose.

"It's nice to play without the pressure," defender Jeff Agoos said. "It frees up some aspects of the game."

Mexico had hoped that Germany would qualify for the semifinals instead of the United States because it wants to avenge a World Cup loss -- and because losing to the Americans at home would be a blow to national pride.

"The United States is a difficult rival," Mexican forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco said. "Its soccer is growing. It has very good individual players, and if they get a goal in, they move back and it's very hard to score on them."

Still, Azteca stadium is a daunting location for the showdown. An expected 110,000 fans will pack the arena, and few will be rooting for the Americans.

The United States has lost every game it has ever played at Azteca except one. The U.S. earned a 0-0 draw in the last one, in World Cup qualifying in November 1997, despite a red card for Agoos. Overall, Mexico has outscored the Americans at home 65-12.

"It's going to be a battle," U.S. forward Brian McBride said. "It's an amazing feeling, just the sound of it. It sounds like a hoard of bees with all the horns."

The United States rested many of its best players Friday night and still managed to shut out Germany, even though it only needed a tie. Now it can go into Sunday's game with players like Cobi Jones, John Harkes, Kasey Keller and McBride rested up.

Arena tried to lower expectations for the game against Mexico, saying: "Let's face it, they're one of the great teams in the world."

But McBride said that wouldn't stop the Americans.

"We have to go in with respect," he said. "But not too much respect."

 

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