USA v Mexico Preview

While living in Spain during World Cup 2006 I found it interesting that Spain (as well as many other countries) used the term "selectioner" for their national team managers; the team being the "selection." That term seems relative in light of all the attention that is being paid to Bob Bradley's "selection" of players for this weeks friendly between the US National Team and Mexico. The American side boasts an impressive eight wins and a draw in our last nine home matches against "El Tri".


In many ways, the team that Bradley is bringing to Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas is a chance for US Soccer fans to get a glimpse of the future. You can bet that youngsters Jozy Altidore and Freddie Adu are eager at the chance to get their first respective caps against a Mexican side that hasn't created a victory on US Soil in the past nine tries. I'm not the only one who is excited at the attacking potential of Bradley's roster (full roster here); the media and most US Soccer fans are coveting the chance to see the likes of Landon Donovan, Deuce Dempsey, and defensive midfielder turned goal machine Michael Bradley starting Wednesday's friendly.

Mexico is bringing their share of "young-buzz" players as well. Hugo Sanchez has called upon Barcelona striker Giovanni Dos Santos and Osasuna's Carlos Vela in an effort to reverse his sides away luck.

The USA Mexico game has always fascinated to me. For the first time in this nation's short footballing history we have been able to watch the development of a rivalry. In many ways, the very existence of this rivalry shows the progression of soccer in the United States. The game seems to transcends the social, the political and the economic baggage generally associated with the relations between our two great nations. For 90 minutes all that matters are the 22 players on the field and the football they are playing. Game time is 9 pm Wednesday.