Mexico v. Ghana 2-1 (26/Mar/08

Wednesday game was strange. Mexican media, in the past two days, had been hailing the way the national side played. But from my point of view it was the third most boring game so far this season (Mexico v. Finland U-23 and Birmingham v. Aston Villa). I would like to make a parenthesis here; someone asked me the other day how many matches have I seen in the current year, I could not answer. But I made a count and here is:
-3 in weekdays
-6 to 8 in weekends
-Aproximately 10 to 13 a week so that makes 40-45 a month
-And has been three months so 75-80(how clever am I adding is not it?)
Following my brilliant adding (lol)the media, as I was saying, hailed the way the 'Europeans' played. I mean it was not a brilliant display of talent, but it was not either the footballistical failure. It was a boring game.
Apart from my reluctance to accept the lack of ideas of Pavel Pardo, the setting of the game was a very peculiar one. The strange London setting is a measure Sepp Blatter has been taking to internationalize different football styles across the world. That is why we see commonly playing Brazil at Emirates and Argentina in Egypt, etc. But the Mexican federatives were quite dumb considering his lack of knowledge in fixtures, France was playing against England in Parc de Princes. Certainly all English eyes were put in this spectacular scenario of an ancestral rivalry. The other side of the coin was watching Brazil versus Sweden at the Emirates. A match that seemed on paper absolutely attractive due to the absence of Kaká and company. An opportunity of watching excellent players unknown to us. And the other game was Spain versus Italy. With first class matches I really can not figure how a Londoner could not watch either his/her home side or the Brazil game. It would be very interesting putting Mexico at Stamford Bridge when England is playing against second string countries, with all due respect. Craven Cottage was empty, I thought the match would gather at least some 20,000 but post match figures resulted in 6,500; a joke for such a beautiful pitch.
The other awkward point was the Coach. The manager, the now hated Mr. Sanchez, was enjoying his last match, with the obvious results from .I think there is no much point to talk about because Carlso Albert has said practically everything, and I referred to the match and the national coach in the Mexico v. Haití U-23.
Talking about the line up, it was not really excellent but the 'best' Mexican football players that can be given now. Andrés Guardado was included in the starting eleven and although he was recovered from his biceps injury he was not supposed to play the hwole match. A very imprudent decision in my view, any player should not be risked after such a difficult injury.
I wanted to make this ambitious attempt of viewing two games at the same time, and commenting them, so you will see even three or four comments on three or four different matches. Ambitious, but the Mexican side helped me making an awful game narrowing, in times, to a two and even one comment.
The early chance came at 17'' when Denigris touched a deflected cross by Manchester City Uruguayan player Nery Castillo. Ghana's game began touching several times. This touching at first seemed childish but when it became an advanced build-up, thus creating a varied array of opportunities in the first stages of the match. The game was at first prety even but when the African side became more and more sophisticated in depth pass, the balance swayed to one-way traffic. Ghana was very balanced. I noticed one thing that I had not noticed since the Cruyff Netherlands back in 74 WC. Ghana advanced five meters their defending line, naturally forcing not just the offside trap but making something very rare and particular. The forwards swayed to the sides and the midfielders operated closer to the opposite box, reaching the true rotation, famous of the Rinuus Michel's teams. There was no Mexican midfield, this because of two defensive midfielders. The creative were deep on the sides, instead of the center a mistake Mr. Sanchez has always made, and does not want to correct, either on arrogance or ignorance. The game, at 18', reached a level of boredom unexpected. The invisible Guardado and the ineffective Pinto did not made any allusions of being in the pitch. Mexican side were completely passive, while Michael Essien distributing work was a standout. Pavel Pardo's so hailed talent was missing. Andrés Guardado made a couple of attempts, founding no one to cross or to support. He truly makes the difference in a team, even if it is Deportivo La Coruña. The game was so mediocre that at 41' I was more interested in the close shot of Guardado's silver shining cleats (Adidas Predator Power Swerve). The empty pitch, the advertisements were more entertaining to the eye rather than the game. At that time I began to watch Brazil v. Sweden, oddly forwarded. The half time interview with David Beckham, reaching his 100th cap, was really flattering. He talked about his period at Arsenal in the Colney training grounds last months. It is always exciting that a different league player hails your team. Talking about Brazil, Luis Fabiano current form is worth of a Legend and I think that Sevilla is too small for his talent.
In the second half of France v. England Capello made three changes, and Mexico one. I swapped channels, to the game that was taken place at the Emirates. It was particularly curious that Anderson was booed all the game, I think it is because of his current club, the arch-rivals, but since I did not watch the game from beginning I had no elements to reinforce this idea. Brazil, always entertaining in contrast to Mexico, was playing a particularly enjoyable game. Diego's talent boosted by Robinho's dribble and later, Rafinha and Luis Fabiano make anyone turn the watch immediately. It is always a pleasure to watch Robinho; I am always impressed by the way he performs perfect his bicycles. I have not achieved more than four in a row at a high speed and perfect precision. He is totally incredible, and haves everything to explode when he wants.
Second Half of Mexico game improved a little although there were still some boring attitudes. Pato made a good impression in his first international cap for the Major Brazilian side. The stadium was full. Many Arsenal players were on the pitch, although it was not an Arsenal game:
-Sebb Larsson and Freddie Ljundberg
-Gilberto and Julio Baptista
Now at 71' Pato scored a tremendous goal. I was completely impressed and overwhelmed by the finishing. He has the luck of a striker and the talent of a crack.he seems to have luck on debuts although his tremendous talent permitted him score such a difficult goal: Vestibular-proprioceptive system is something that to strikers is of a matter of true-importance. This system is run by the hypothalamus and is basically a spacial reconstruction of the body towards an environment. Pato felt the rebound and immediately ubicated to a shooting position which derived, into the goal. This position was managed by this system in which the goal is tattooed on the mind's eye of the striker. Few people can react to that level.
I laughed at Essien's goal. Not by the perfect execution of the Ghanese but from the reluctant marking and covering on Mexican's defense.
Going back to Brazil, the generational change is even more emphasized than other teams. There is a very fine generation of young Brazilians coming along and they seem to dethrone Kakás and Ronaldinhos.
Guardado acted even more good than his invisible first half providing excellent crosses. Salcido has showed why he plays at PSV and his level has soared up since his arrival at Dutch football.
Mexican changes Zinha and Jimmy Lozano were clumsy.Guille Franco had a chance by a perfect cross by Guardado but could not get it and went wide. The Ghana strikers did a very fine job, even creating what could have been a tremendously well made goal.
Mexico's final goals established a bad victory, viewing that both were the product of extreme luck, above all Salcido, whose will is not questioned.
There were two comments that showed the ignorance of Mexican TV Azteca commentators on English football. First, the pitch size, which from my point of view was perfect. Obviously they did not watched any 'ballet football' at Highbury. According to 'Joppie' the technical skills are learned at narrow spaces, such as the parking lot, the street and the house, just as I did. Thus playing in narrow and short spaces should not be a problem, would be and advantage. Second, pitch state in the stormy London was according to Jorge Campos 'slimy' and 'unplayable'. He obviously did not see Barsa playing at Stamford Bridge in season 05/06.


I promise to deliver the posts of Mexico v. USA and Mexico U-23 v. Haiti. I really had not got the time to make them and I really want to make my point due to the fact that many ideas are in the air.
Regarding the other international friendlies, there were some very interesting results such as the Orange comeback. There is obviously a thrilling Cup arriving this summer and I will try to bring to the blog every match with a review as usual.
Finally Mr. Wenger said that the international friendlies were going to end in an utopic future, due to the absence of competitive in them. I do not necessarily agree but the French has been very punctual in many of his 'future football epiphanies' so I will not discuss it in great detail. But (hehe there is always a 'but' as Aurora Piñeiro would say) the joy of watching a national side in the 'uncompetitive role' is what people like. The tension of a natch in a cup is very strong and everybody need some catharsis from time to time.