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EXCLUSIVE: Berhalter & Jones: Memories Of Azteca
Former U.S. internationals Cobi Jones and Gregg Berhalter spoke exclusively to Goal.com about the upcoming USA-Mexico game in Azteca.
Aug 4, 2009 8:19:25 PM
On August 12, the United States national team will take on Mexico on CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in Azteca Stadium. The Americans have never won in that stadium.
Two stalwarts of the U.S. national team spoke exclusively to Goal.com ahead of the match, sharing memories of past matches and advice for the current crop of American internationals.
Former winger Cobi Jones was there when the USA got its first and only draw in Azteca. He reminisced about how the crowd turned on the Mexican hosts.
“It's a tough stadium to play in for both teams,” he said. “The Mexicans have a lot of pressure on them. Being down a man and getting a point there was huge for us. The Mexican fans weren't liking it at all. By the last 15 - 20 minutes they were cheering for us and doing the 'Ole's every time we passed the ball, against their own team.”
Jones thought the U.S. team could use the fickleness of the fans to its advantage. Withstanding the pressure of an early attacking burst from Mexico would be key, he noted.
“The Mexican team has a lot of pressure to do well,” the current Los Angeles Galaxy assistant coach said. “If they don't get opportunities and chances right off the bat, I wouldn't be surprised to see some boos and some whistles.”
Current Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter agreed with the tactic of holding down a clean sheet as the best way to put the Mexican team under pressure.
“The key to those games, which we haven't done well, is just not conceding an early goal,” he told Goal.com. “Trying to go the first half, keep it 0-0. One time in the Confederations Cup semifinal we played them and lost in golden goal, but that's a good example of how we frustrated them, kept them at 0-0 and it was a very difficult game for them.
“Conversely, in the (2005) qualifier we gave up a couple early goals. We fought back to make it 2-1, but still the game was out of reach because of that. It's just staying compact and staying organized and trying not to concede an early goal.”
Besides an initial burst of attack from Mexico, Berhalter warned about surviving the atmosphere. Azteca is housed in smoggy Mexico City, and many American teams of the past have struggled with the environmental circumstances surrounding the game.
“It's tough, it's definitely tough,” Berhalter said. “You try to do all the things you can do: taking the aspirin, the oxygen, all the stuff you try to do. But when you get there on game day, they usually play around noontime, it's not an easy proposition. It's very warm, you have the smog of Mexico City, the packed stadium, so it's difficult. I think that's part of coping with the situation.”
Despite the hardships and record, Berhalter's voice grows excited when he talks of a possible upset. He enjoys the new chance given to every new incarnation of the national team.
“I remember when we went down there the last time we had a chance,” the 36-year-old said. “We thought we were going to do it, everyone was saying we were going to do it, but we didn't do it. Every team now gets a crack at it, so it's kind of fun. There's really nothing to lose.”
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
With additional reporting by Andrea Canales, Goal.com
If you follow the U.S. Men's National Team, you'll love their dedicated page on Goal.com
Two stalwarts of the U.S. national team spoke exclusively to Goal.com ahead of the match, sharing memories of past matches and advice for the current crop of American internationals.
Former winger Cobi Jones was there when the USA got its first and only draw in Azteca. He reminisced about how the crowd turned on the Mexican hosts.
“It's a tough stadium to play in for both teams,” he said. “The Mexicans have a lot of pressure on them. Being down a man and getting a point there was huge for us. The Mexican fans weren't liking it at all. By the last 15 - 20 minutes they were cheering for us and doing the 'Ole's every time we passed the ball, against their own team.”
Jones thought the U.S. team could use the fickleness of the fans to its advantage. Withstanding the pressure of an early attacking burst from Mexico would be key, he noted.
“The Mexican team has a lot of pressure to do well,” the current Los Angeles Galaxy assistant coach said. “If they don't get opportunities and chances right off the bat, I wouldn't be surprised to see some boos and some whistles.”
Current Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter agreed with the tactic of holding down a clean sheet as the best way to put the Mexican team under pressure.
“The key to those games, which we haven't done well, is just not conceding an early goal,” he told Goal.com. “Trying to go the first half, keep it 0-0. One time in the Confederations Cup semifinal we played them and lost in golden goal, but that's a good example of how we frustrated them, kept them at 0-0 and it was a very difficult game for them.
“Conversely, in the (2005) qualifier we gave up a couple early goals. We fought back to make it 2-1, but still the game was out of reach because of that. It's just staying compact and staying organized and trying not to concede an early goal.”
Besides an initial burst of attack from Mexico, Berhalter warned about surviving the atmosphere. Azteca is housed in smoggy Mexico City, and many American teams of the past have struggled with the environmental circumstances surrounding the game.
“It's tough, it's definitely tough,” Berhalter said. “You try to do all the things you can do: taking the aspirin, the oxygen, all the stuff you try to do. But when you get there on game day, they usually play around noontime, it's not an easy proposition. It's very warm, you have the smog of Mexico City, the packed stadium, so it's difficult. I think that's part of coping with the situation.”
Despite the hardships and record, Berhalter's voice grows excited when he talks of a possible upset. He enjoys the new chance given to every new incarnation of the national team.
“I remember when we went down there the last time we had a chance,” the 36-year-old said. “We thought we were going to do it, everyone was saying we were going to do it, but we didn't do it. Every team now gets a crack at it, so it's kind of fun. There's really nothing to lose.”
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
With additional reporting by Andrea Canales, Goal.com
If you follow the U.S. Men's National Team, you'll love their dedicated page on Goal.com
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