Mexico

Bueno's Views: Campos Keeping The Faith In El Tri

Former Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos said Mexico will reach the World Cup, no matter how difficult the road becomes.

Jun 30, 2009 10:57:26 AM

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By Luis Bueno

Mexico’s potentially depressing World Cup qualifying campaign has not dampened everyone’s spirits.

Former World Cup goalkeeper Jorge Campos is keeping the faith that Mexico will reach the 2010 World Cup.

As El Tri tries for Gold Cup glory, Campos said Mexico would be in line for a World Cup spot once qualifying resumes on Aug. 12 against the United States. That Mexico are struggling, with just six points through five games, is something that will turn around, Campos said. And while Mexico might not overtake Costa Rica for the top spot, that won’t matter so long as Mexico is a participant in the world’s greatest sporting event.

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“When you are in the World Cup, everything else is forgotten,” Campos told Goal.com. “Nobody cares how you got there. Some teams get there in first place, others in last place through qualifying, others in a playoff. Nobody remembers how you got there. I think one way or another Mexico will be in a World Cup.”

In 2001, Mexico were in a similar position as El Tri had just four points through five games. Mexico recovered, picked up 13 points in their last five games and qualified in second place. After Mexico’s win over Honduras to close out qualifying, a win that gave Mexico a World Cup spot, the struggles of the first half of the qualifying campaign were forgotten.

Now, though, the prospect of Mexico not reaching the World Cup is real. Mexico could win their three remaining home games and not finish in the final three. Road games in Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago will be critical, while home victories will be absolutely necessary – dropping points in Azteca will quickly sink El Tri’s qualifying hopes.

In manager Javier Aguirre, though, Campos said Mexico has a man who can take Mexico to South Africa 2010.

“The most important thing is to qualify,” Campos said. “It's not like Javier is new to this. He knows perfectly well the mentality of the Mexican footballer and how he should play.”

Aguirre helped lead the turnaround in 2001 and did not lose any games down the stretch. While times have changed – Aguirre joins Mexico from the Spanish league this time as opposed to eight years ago when he came from Mexican side Pachuca – Aguirre is banking on turning around El Tri with the use of a pair of figures from 2001.

Oscar Perez is back in goal and Cuauhtemoc Blanco is once again on the field regularly for El Tri. Campos said Perez was a capable goalkeeper despite his age. Campos himself has experience backing up Perez, as Campos was Mexico’s third goalkeeper in the 2002 World Cup.

Blanco, meanwhile, is an inspirational player who has the same magic now as he did in 2001.

“Blanco looks very good. I believe he is a special player, one of those special players who does good things for his team,” Campos said. “He’s been given the opportunity and he knows what the qualifying match is and what it means. He's in form, he's playing well with Chicago. I see him running and I saw him in the past (qualifying) game as one of the best players.”

Substance over age is Blanco’s calling card.

“I think Javier knows the kind of player Cuauhtemoc is, that he's a special player, that he inspires others,” Campos said. “That's good for the team, to have a player like that on the team.”

As far as qualifying goes, Mexico’s challenges might be tougher this time around. The region has improved a great deal since 2001. Already Mexico has lost qualifying games to three opponents and face a pair of difficult road games in Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago.

“CONCACAF has changed a lot. Other teams have raised their level and we need to be aware of that. The quality of their players and coaches has improved, especially the teams from Central America. They have several players who play in Europe and I believe that is good for their level,” Campos said. “CONCACAF has improved a lot and we should continue to grow as well. There are some who think we should qualify easily but I believe it will never be easy.”

Still, Mexico’s toughest regional rival remains the United States. Mexico has already fallen victim to the Americans in this qualifying campaign, having lost 2-0 in February.

“The US has maintained their level. They've grown a lot. They've worked hard. I'm not sure they're in their best form because they are not in first place,” Campos said. “They are a good team and we have to be careful with them.”

While the Americans upset Spain and played toe-to-toe with Brazil in the Confederations Cup, Campos said Estadio Azteca will be a repeat of the last qualifying game down there, except the U.S. won’t score.

“I believe it will be 2-0,” he said, “in favor of Mexico.”

Goal.com

Andrea Canales contributed to this report.

Visit Goal.com for more coverage of the Mexican national team.

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