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Exclusive: Suarez Hails "Big Advantage" Azteca Gives Mexico
Claudio Suarez played in Azteca stadium for Mexico and saw many teams wilt versus the challenges of the location.
Aug 5, 2009 4:10:34 AM
One person who expects Mexico to be riding a wave of confidence against
the United States has a unique perspective on the situation. Defender
Claudio Suarez has participated in multiple World Cups with El Tri, and
has a long record of service with the squad. However, he has also
played for years in the United States, in Major League Soccer's Chivas
USA.
"Winning 5-0 took a lot of pressure off of the team and the coaching staff, to have that victory and take the (Gold Cup) title," Suarez said in an exclusive interview with Goal.com.
Suarez didn't believe that Mexico's players would get too carried away by the Gold Cup win and go into Azteca unprepared, though. "They know it's going to be different, because the U.S. is going to take the starters and the more experienced players. They know it won't be easy, although they're playing in Azteca."
Mexico's fabled home stadium has been a fortress for the national team, and the U.S. has never defeated their southern neighbors there.
"That's a big advantage," Suarez explained, ticking off the factors that the American players would have to contend with. "Besides having 120,000 supporting you, playing at three in the afternoon is hot. The altitude affects players and so does the smog. Those should be factors against the U.S."
Still, Suarez wasn't taking a win for granted.
"Mexico has to play smart. The U.S. is going to play defensively, going to look to counter - that's what they've always done. They're going to try to use their speed to their advantage."
Another MLS player from Mexico could be key to the game, Suarez believed. He spoke specifically about Cuauhtemoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire.
"Blanco knows the soccer of the U.S., especially from playing in MLS. He can set up goals and score goals. I don't know if he's going to start, because Aguirre brought a lot of Gold Cup players, so I don't know if Blanco is perhaps planned as a sub. But he helps the team a lot. He holds the ball and defenders foul him, so that creates chances. Some may say he's not dynamic or fast any more, but he helps the team a lot with his intelligent play."
After sputtering under the tenure of Swedish coach Sven Goran Erikson, and looking shaky even when experienced coach Javier Aguirre first took over, Mexico seems to have finally found its stride.
Aguirre may be a key factor.
"Against the U.S., he changed the formation and approach, and I think that surprised the U.S. a bit," Suarez observed. "He's got players now, Giovanni and Vela, Franco and Blanco, that allow him to do different things in the attack."
Suarez had faith that Aguirre would take the right approach versus the U.S.A in Azteca.
"I don't know what he'll do, but he knows the team better now. He didn't really know all the players when he got here from Spain, but by now and especially in the Gold Cup, he got to know the players out there and now he can move forward knowing who can do what."
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
Will you be there when history is made? Get U.S.-Mexico Azteca tickets now.
"Winning 5-0 took a lot of pressure off of the team and the coaching staff, to have that victory and take the (Gold Cup) title," Suarez said in an exclusive interview with Goal.com.
Suarez didn't believe that Mexico's players would get too carried away by the Gold Cup win and go into Azteca unprepared, though. "They know it's going to be different, because the U.S. is going to take the starters and the more experienced players. They know it won't be easy, although they're playing in Azteca."
Mexico's fabled home stadium has been a fortress for the national team, and the U.S. has never defeated their southern neighbors there.
"That's a big advantage," Suarez explained, ticking off the factors that the American players would have to contend with. "Besides having 120,000 supporting you, playing at three in the afternoon is hot. The altitude affects players and so does the smog. Those should be factors against the U.S."
Still, Suarez wasn't taking a win for granted.
"Mexico has to play smart. The U.S. is going to play defensively, going to look to counter - that's what they've always done. They're going to try to use their speed to their advantage."
Another MLS player from Mexico could be key to the game, Suarez believed. He spoke specifically about Cuauhtemoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire.
"Blanco knows the soccer of the U.S., especially from playing in MLS. He can set up goals and score goals. I don't know if he's going to start, because Aguirre brought a lot of Gold Cup players, so I don't know if Blanco is perhaps planned as a sub. But he helps the team a lot. He holds the ball and defenders foul him, so that creates chances. Some may say he's not dynamic or fast any more, but he helps the team a lot with his intelligent play."
After sputtering under the tenure of Swedish coach Sven Goran Erikson, and looking shaky even when experienced coach Javier Aguirre first took over, Mexico seems to have finally found its stride.
Aguirre may be a key factor.
"Against the U.S., he changed the formation and approach, and I think that surprised the U.S. a bit," Suarez observed. "He's got players now, Giovanni and Vela, Franco and Blanco, that allow him to do different things in the attack."
Suarez had faith that Aguirre would take the right approach versus the U.S.A in Azteca.
"I don't know what he'll do, but he knows the team better now. He didn't really know all the players when he got here from Spain, but by now and especially in the Gold Cup, he got to know the players out there and now he can move forward knowing who can do what."
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
Will you be there when history is made? Get U.S.-Mexico Azteca tickets now.
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