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Canales Corner: U.S., Mexico Warriors Face Off
The CONCACAF clasico goes far back and some players in Columbus have had key roles in many earlier chapters of the book. These veterans are the warriors both sides will lean on in the tough times.
Feb 9, 2009 12:36:53 PM
By Andrea Canales
In heated rivalries, the language to describe the competition of two teams striving against each other is almost always that of war. As long-time soccer foes, the U.S. and Mexico have on both sides veterans who will be expected to carry the banner for their squads on the field. Even as new players transition into the squad, those with experience have a particular understanding of the moments that can turn a match.
Landon Donovan began his career with a Mexico match, in an August 2000 exhibition match where he notched his first international goal. The speedy midfielder/forward, now on loan to Bayern Munich, seems to have taken an inspirational cue from that first game. He has a track record of playing particularly well against Mexico and will be one of the players that Bob Bradley will count on in Columbus.
At 26, Donovan is still young enough to threaten defenders with his quickness, but he is also the most-capped player (105) stepping on the field for the U.S. The El Tri players know well that he is a threat. Yet the American squad is balanced enough that concentrating heavily on Donovan, as Mexico has sometimes done, leaves other players with more time and space to do damage.
In contrast, the work of Mexico's top player, Rafael Marquez, is all about limiting damage. The defender has developed during his years with Barcelona into an accomplished player who has curbed somewhat his youthful temper without sacrificing his competitive intensity. At 29, he marshals the backline with the cool assured knowledge of a player who has faced down the best in Europe on a regular basis.
A threat on headers, Marquez has scored ten goals for Mexico and serves regularly as captain of the team. At times, the centerback seems a bit too eager to intervene for the sake of his national squad, running cover for his younger and less-capable teammates on defense and getting slightly out of position. Yet when he is focused on the job at hand and sticks to what he does best, he remains at the top of his game. Marquez is widely respected on the Mexico squad for his success abroad and his leadership on the field.
The last time Mexico faced the U.S. in Columbus in a World Cup qualifying match, DaMarcus Beasley scored the American team's final goal. His fast runs and attacks tortured the Mexican defenders all game long, and they resorted to pushing fouls on multiple occasions, which generated set piece chances for the U.S.
Though in a somewhat more circumspect way than Donovan, Beasley has proven himself in the regional derby many times. He seems to have fallen heir to the Cobi Jones role of a fleet-footed and athletic player who annoys and frustrates Mexico easily. A current issue with Beasley, however, is that a lack of playing time at his present club, Rangers, may have him less than game-sharp. It could hamper his ability to play his usual role of pesky winger.
Pavel Pardo's longtime function for Mexico has been as the steadying force of the team. The calm and capable defensive midfielder is closing in on 150 caps for Mexico. After many years in the Mexican league, he joined Germany's Stuttgart and won the 2007 Bundesliga championship with the squad.
Pardo's importance to El Tri is at times most notable when he does not play, as it is clear his technical skills and tactical savvy are crucial for many games. That is part of the reason why a recent leg injury with Club America, his latest team, was such a concern. Pardo made the roster for the Columbus game, though, so it is likely that he has recovered, or has the will to manage through any lingering physical issues.
The oldest player on the U.S. team may yet still be one of the liveliest. At 34, Frankie Hejduk is the personification of unbridled enthusiasm on the field. He has exhibited more drive than absolute skill throughout his career, but he also had a knack for timely runs and is unafraid to impact any game. Hejduk scored against Mexico in the 1999 and 2000 U.S. Cup, when the U.S. was just starting to emerge as a legitimate contender to the CONCACAF giants.
Now, not a single player from either of the rosters where he notched a goal remains on the U.S. or Mexican side, but Hejduk is still going strong and could yet play an important role, since Steve Cherundolo is out injured. Even if he never sees the field, however, Hejduk's indomitable spirit can still affect a game due to how he fires up his teammates.
Though Guillermo Ochoa is considered the Mexico squad's bright future in goal, Oswaldo Sanchez will likely start, as he has so many times for Mexico. At nearly 100 caps, Sanchez can be counted on for big game experience. On a personal level, though, he has always made it clear how badly he longs to defeat the U.S. Sometimes this spills over from heated competition, as it did once when he kicked out at U.S. forward Eddie Johnson, who was merely running past him to celebrate a goal with his teammate.
The intensity that Sanchez exhibited in that match, which was ostensibly a mere friendly, encapsulated the grudges and friction between the teams. The metaphors of combat are fitting, because if these warriors have anything to say about it, it will be a hard-fought match.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com USA
In heated rivalries, the language to describe the competition of two teams striving against each other is almost always that of war. As long-time soccer foes, the U.S. and Mexico have on both sides veterans who will be expected to carry the banner for their squads on the field. Even as new players transition into the squad, those with experience have a particular understanding of the moments that can turn a match.
Landon Donovan began his career with a Mexico match, in an August 2000 exhibition match where he notched his first international goal. The speedy midfielder/forward, now on loan to Bayern Munich, seems to have taken an inspirational cue from that first game. He has a track record of playing particularly well against Mexico and will be one of the players that Bob Bradley will count on in Columbus.
At 26, Donovan is still young enough to threaten defenders with his quickness, but he is also the most-capped player (105) stepping on the field for the U.S. The El Tri players know well that he is a threat. Yet the American squad is balanced enough that concentrating heavily on Donovan, as Mexico has sometimes done, leaves other players with more time and space to do damage.
In contrast, the work of Mexico's top player, Rafael Marquez, is all about limiting damage. The defender has developed during his years with Barcelona into an accomplished player who has curbed somewhat his youthful temper without sacrificing his competitive intensity. At 29, he marshals the backline with the cool assured knowledge of a player who has faced down the best in Europe on a regular basis.
A threat on headers, Marquez has scored ten goals for Mexico and serves regularly as captain of the team. At times, the centerback seems a bit too eager to intervene for the sake of his national squad, running cover for his younger and less-capable teammates on defense and getting slightly out of position. Yet when he is focused on the job at hand and sticks to what he does best, he remains at the top of his game. Marquez is widely respected on the Mexico squad for his success abroad and his leadership on the field.
The last time Mexico faced the U.S. in Columbus in a World Cup qualifying match, DaMarcus Beasley scored the American team's final goal. His fast runs and attacks tortured the Mexican defenders all game long, and they resorted to pushing fouls on multiple occasions, which generated set piece chances for the U.S.
Though in a somewhat more circumspect way than Donovan, Beasley has proven himself in the regional derby many times. He seems to have fallen heir to the Cobi Jones role of a fleet-footed and athletic player who annoys and frustrates Mexico easily. A current issue with Beasley, however, is that a lack of playing time at his present club, Rangers, may have him less than game-sharp. It could hamper his ability to play his usual role of pesky winger.
Pavel Pardo's longtime function for Mexico has been as the steadying force of the team. The calm and capable defensive midfielder is closing in on 150 caps for Mexico. After many years in the Mexican league, he joined Germany's Stuttgart and won the 2007 Bundesliga championship with the squad.
Pardo's importance to El Tri is at times most notable when he does not play, as it is clear his technical skills and tactical savvy are crucial for many games. That is part of the reason why a recent leg injury with Club America, his latest team, was such a concern. Pardo made the roster for the Columbus game, though, so it is likely that he has recovered, or has the will to manage through any lingering physical issues.
The oldest player on the U.S. team may yet still be one of the liveliest. At 34, Frankie Hejduk is the personification of unbridled enthusiasm on the field. He has exhibited more drive than absolute skill throughout his career, but he also had a knack for timely runs and is unafraid to impact any game. Hejduk scored against Mexico in the 1999 and 2000 U.S. Cup, when the U.S. was just starting to emerge as a legitimate contender to the CONCACAF giants.
Now, not a single player from either of the rosters where he notched a goal remains on the U.S. or Mexican side, but Hejduk is still going strong and could yet play an important role, since Steve Cherundolo is out injured. Even if he never sees the field, however, Hejduk's indomitable spirit can still affect a game due to how he fires up his teammates.
Though Guillermo Ochoa is considered the Mexico squad's bright future in goal, Oswaldo Sanchez will likely start, as he has so many times for Mexico. At nearly 100 caps, Sanchez can be counted on for big game experience. On a personal level, though, he has always made it clear how badly he longs to defeat the U.S. Sometimes this spills over from heated competition, as it did once when he kicked out at U.S. forward Eddie Johnson, who was merely running past him to celebrate a goal with his teammate.
The intensity that Sanchez exhibited in that match, which was ostensibly a mere friendly, encapsulated the grudges and friction between the teams. The metaphors of combat are fitting, because if these warriors have anything to say about it, it will be a hard-fought match.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com USA
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