Mexico v. Gambia 5-1 30/May/10

Vela assaulted from the back.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet Photo Gallery]


In the rainy landscape of southern Germany, El Tri managed to pull out a large and contrasting victory against their African counterparts to end a clear deficit in their latest European tour. Were the previous two matches exposed certain weakness in some parts of Mexico's defensive system, this time the meager opposition did not help, as well as the pitch, to provide some real contention.

Where there were three different scorers, the scoresheet was a real disgrace compared to what could have happened if the Mexican players would ensured to put the ball in the back of net the same number of arrivals at goal. To tell you the truth, this match offered mere commercial benefits, when the sporting ones are being left aside. Mexico's last and final European clash is against the current World Cup holders, Italy. Meanwhile the final list will be reduced to 23 leaving one player aside. My bet is on a centre-back but Aguirre will probably leave out Jonathan Dos Santos.



Team effort not enough.
[Photo: Digital ABC]


The terrible conditions of the pitch, along with three different starters were the main news. Bautista, Michel and Jonathan Dos Santos all have their place in this the third different starting eleven in three matches. The game started in the odd side for he Africans as they faced an overwhelming opposition that required certainly an effort they have never made before. It was not until Chicharo's goal, in the 17th, that the match did quite start.

There were some nasty challenges on Guardado and Vela but the team managed to compose their attitude and attacked as they had the possible chance. Guardado's incursions on the left, throughout the first half made the difference. Mexico's captain and Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez played in a deep right-back role.


In the second half, the team only began its successive run with Hernández finding the net to grab his brace. It only took five minutes, two substitutions and one well-crossed pass to give Mexico another goal that will ease up things in their front. Six minutes later, another pair of substitutions were made, among them Alberto Medina. It was the Guadalajara winger who took on the first charge after missing a sitter from close range but his assist on Bautista kept things rolling for the "home" team as they scored their third.

In the 65th minute, Ebrima Sonha exposed Mexico's tactical failure in marking. The defending was comical; one can only hope that this happens only in this exhibitions and not against the likes of South Africa or France. Immediately after, Medina and Cuauhtémoc set Bautista gain, who after some struggle, managed to put the Mexicans up one more time. The final goal, despite the fearsome Gambian defending came from Medina as well, just ten minutes until the end. Some substitutions by both teams ended the match in quite a shaken atmosphere.

Netherlands v. Mexico 2-1 26/May/10

Kuyt congratulates van Persie
[Photo: EPA via Telegraph]


It only took Robin van Persie two out of four chances to finish the match in the rainy Badenova Stadion last Wednesday night. The so-called Mexican European tour progressed in another disgraceful evening and while those moments of truly genial manufacture against England seemed present there was no way the Mexican team could have been spared from a half-oiled Dutch machinery.

The poor start, paired with the awful weather, gave the Dutch players certain advantage that last for the whole night, as the Arsenal striker secured a brace after some comical defending. Nevertheless the drought was ended by Hernández, who continues to impress both here in his land and abroad. The Dutch striker was "pleased", according to Goal.com; no one could think otherwise as his efforts (particularly the second) were truly marvelous.

The next stop is near Bayern, where Mexico will fight their Gambian (is that the genitive?) counterpart. By the way, Arsenal.com published the related story featuring their two strikers, just in case.



Van Persie scores his second of the night.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


As early as the fifteenth minute, the Dutchmen produced at least, three clear chances, an offside, and a sitter wasted by van Persie as well as some woodwork from part of van der Vaart. It took less than two minutes after that to see the first goal by the team that was acting as "home": the Arsenal striker found himself free of mark - after some comical covering from Torres Nilo - just to push the ball in the back of the net. Ochoa and his defensive stratagem were ousted by a simple assistance from the captain van der Vaart.

Then, the Mexican managed to stabilise the game for at least some minutes, but again failed to impress as they lost possession and concentration. Over and over De Zeuuw regained the ball in nearly all his battles with the Mexican midfield. With the current agenda there was not a real threat from the North American team. Instead Afellay delivered one beautiful thirty-meter assistance to find a lonesome van Persie. The Gunner delivered all his class in a single well-executed volley to find the back of the net. With the second half under way, the team was two-goals behind.


With certain particular slow tempo, the remaining half began and the Dutch torrent started all over again, when the Liverpool striker missed a clear chance that would have put the final nail in the match. Instead with the passing minutes, the Mexican grew in confidence and assured some possession before entering into an attacking position. With the inclusion of Barrera this seemed seemingly planed as he provided speed and danger, with the most prominent attempts in the 58th minute.

It was probably due to the Dutch substitutions, particularly the dreadful display by Engelaar, which dropped the performance of the Europeans. Giovani made some runs, and nearly the Mexicans opened their score as both Vela and Hernández missed the dangerous cross from the Galatasaray striker. Six minute later in the 73rd, Giovani set Torres Nilo who crossed to Hernández who headed past Stekelenburg. Another row of chances came, one fearless shot from Giovani in a run and two set pieces: one by him and the other by Vela. With the high-spirited Mexican attack the match ended with another grasping match.

England v. Mexico 2-1 24/May/10

Some Paisanos outside Wembley.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet Photo Gallery]


At last, Mexico's final rundown against World Cup giants began with an honourable loss against England in Wembley. Whether this match posed many responses from both sides of the Atlantic, all of them should be considered with a pinch of salt. Whereas in England certain aspects of the game were highlighted -such as Capello's pre-evaluations or Wembley's pitch state- there was a sense of either extreme complacency or sheer optimism.

The problem of the match was the casual manner of three of the four goals as well as the dominance and physical shape of the English team. Even with a depleted squad the England national team managed to poke three goals out of nothing whilst the Mexicans provided show, spectacle and promise. Despite Mexico's defeat there were some quarters of supporters that managed to underrate the performance, making some utter disappointing comments.

Previews in Mexico gave the visitors a rather optimistic view of the situation whereas in England sites such as Football 365 evaded football matter to be a little less than apologetic regarding the state of the pitch. Naturally the response after the game was a sort of praise for the in-form Mexico team and their lack of punch.

Zonal Marking made a particularly interesting piece on Mexico's tactics as well as well as overtly-friendly Soccernet's verdict. Next friendly will be at Germany against the Netherlands while the English will face Japan before their debut in Rustenburg.



Ledley King scores the opener.
[Photo: AP via Daily Mail]


The first fifteen minutes were among the best played in an International friendly for Aguirre's men: they enjoyed thorough possession, played quickly, fabricated several clear chances and found themselves pretty much in the physical edge. This was mainly because of the previously one hundred matches played by the Mexican team in U.S. soil for the last month or so.

The first of a series of runs against Green's goal was Juárez's in the 2nd minute followed by two Franco shots. Capello's worries were enhanced by the dismal attacking approach of his team. The Mexicans were on the prowl as they did not appear to share possession. And as if it were another custom-made script the Mexican team suffered from a set piece in which Ledley King score, after a header from Crouch. The corner kick was a needless fluke from Aguilar.

As the English attempts were closing to Mexico's goal, "Maza" Rodríguez had to make an imperious tackle preventing Rooney from an one-on-one chance. With the game closing in its final ten minutes, Mexican London players Giovani and Vela had an interesting counter attack, which Green saved. Salcido took a 20-meter howler that ended in the woodwork; Mexico's offensive prowess was due to the fact that England allowed to much possession as Capello usually does. In the following minutes another goal came from both the English and the Mexicans closed the gap with their own: Crouch took advantage of the horrid defending and scored with his hand in what appeared to be an offside sort-of "header." Then franco scored; the Hammer poked the ball past Baines' feet.



Johnson, after scoring a cracker.
[Photo: Andy Hooper via Daily Mail]


The following half saw a large array of substitutes appearing for both sides. That took the game in a different direction from what was shown in the first twenty minutes of the game. In the third minute Johnson took a beauty shot top corner as the Mexican defence let him run past three players. His effort was outstanding but the lack of pressure was another mistake to be given to Aguirre's team.

With the substitutions, the visitors were completely disorganised as they faced a quick deploy from Walcott and Rooney. Spaces left the Liverpool captain shot twice on goal, nearly scoring in the 69th minute. Barrera and Guardado's introduction made some tactical changes despite the defensive performance of the hosts. A couple of shots from the former as well as some dangerous runs provided that spark needed although it was not enough to see off some contention.

Mexico v. New Zealand 2-0 3/Mar/10

David Villa scored the first as France were battered at home.
[Photo: Benoît Tessier/Reuters via Guardian]


It took over a year here at the blog to review the last International friendly, and this time, in the preview of the World Cup, we found ourselves merged in what some call a "dreadful interlull" but for me, a delightful paradise of eternal football bliss. And in what better fashion could we celebrate the final countdown to the summer's tournament with nearly one hundred days to go. Some credit has to be given to the extraordinary effort that Paco Villa has been putting in Televisa Deportes' site, especially with the fantastic Retro World Cup. One hundred fully-digitised original broadcasts of the best classic 100 World Cup matches of the history.



Crouch came from the bench to beat Egypt with a brace
[Photo: Telegraph]

In other news, our watch for Mexico's rivals is in hot pursue. France were royally annihilated by a powerful team of Spain. With goals from David Villa and Sergio Ramos, the head of Raymond Domenech hangs by a thread, even within months of the tournament's start. Though, their second kit is gorgeous.

Here at Deviations, I assume that by early May (middle June) I will have updated all the Arsenal matches. I am battling through with it, watching some delayed matches. I will not make a preview, rather you could find a useful or I will recommend some; instead I will make a quick survey and fully inform you on a daily basis of the gossip and etc. Each game will be properly reviewed since I have prepared for the last three years for this event. I find utterly hilarious that I finished high school exactly the day Germany played Costa Rica and that this time, I will finish my undergrad course four years after, in a similar fashion of football. And they say that football does not domain lives?



Hernández scores the first? of the night.
[Photo: Televisa Deportes]


The match began with some fresh faces in Mexico's squad: Monterrey striker De Nigris as well as the two Dos Santos brothers and Luis Michel, Guadalajara keeper. The Mexicans began the game with a set full of variants, mainly with Guardado and Giovani in each flank providing some speed and crosses. While the New Zelanders defended fiercely, there was an exact effort by the Mexican's to prove Americans and Paisanos what is the team up to.
Instead the "home" team attacked mainly through overlaps and crosses.
In one occasion, Jonathan Dos Santos managed to stroke the ball with a powerful volley that moved the framework of the crossbar. Within ten minutes to end the first half, the could not convert any chances created. That would have to wait until the next half.



Aguirre and Márquez finishing details.
[Photo: Saúl Molina via Récord]


And it was Hernández who headed a beautiful cross from Salcido that gave the lead to the Mexicans. The way the striker jumped and managed to stay up before striking the ball was superb. Not even five minutes from the first the second arrived: Arsenal's number 12 ran past two defenders and moved with easiness the third to pull a Zidane-esque effort and give Mexico the two goal lead.
After some substitutions were made the match entered into a strange zone were neither team made any proper judgement to pursue one or another goal. In that way the match ended with a devastated visitor against a merely brilliant Mexican team.

Brazil v. Italy 2-0 10/Feb/09

The "long unbeaten run," as Dominic Raynor put it, took place today at the Emirates when a dazzling performance by the South American side outclassed the Europeans in what was called the "World's Derby."
The truth is that I have been expecting this match for some time and what better ground to make it happen than the Emirates. The four times World Cup winners against the most successful squad in the world. A match highly expected and bloated in controversy with Amaury switching sides, Lippi's starting XI, Goal.com's initiative to bring Maldini back and finally Robinho, Kaká and friends.

Last match for Brazil took place in the most disastrous of fashions with Dunga's side getting beat off 6-2 against rivals Portugal. Italy instead, by the new rule of World Cup Winner Marcello Lippi has kept their pace as top leaders in their qualification group enjoying a good advantage from their closest persecutor.





And it was Andrea Pirlo who pulled the strings for the Italian team most of the mach, having made a goal pass to Grosso which was dissallowed as early as 4'. As Davie Provan put it, in the Sky Sports broadcast, "[it was] a delightful finish." And indeed it appeared to be onside but the diference was too narrow that the benefit of the doubt ahould be given to the referee.
One aspect that Martin Tyler mentioned was the current level of expectation from the English audience on the English v. Italy matches in the knockout stage of the UCL, that you will have in a week's time. And Brazil managed, through their midfielders and fullbacks, to acquire possession in such level that the Catenaccio was starting to show up on the Italian scheme. But Elano's brace was enough to give Brazil the lead after twelve minutes, a lovely finish with the distracted Italian centerback.
The problem for the Italian team was the wide players that were arranged; Brazil dispossessed the Italians very quickly due to the fact that the only static midfield player was Andrea Pirlo, while Brazil played with two or three connected players in tight spaces.
Far from being brilliant Montolivo's first half was all but brainy, letting, in some cases, Brazilian fullbacks to reach three-quarters in the pitch to later shot, as Maicon at 25'. And Robinho, one of the spolied kids of this blog, did a brilliant definition after stealing the ball and after a handful of tricks he managed to shot, and it was two-nil up for the Brazilian side. Pirlo was dispossessed and commonly this kind of things happen to the best player of an outclassed team. And it was the couple from Manchester based Brazilians who provided the show for Brazil that evening at the Grove.
Between the few attempts made by Italy, aside from the earlier disallowed goal, came with De Rossi shot at 32'. With the minutes passing Elano made a thunderous shot that past just above the bar.
Aside from that the crowd in London was superb; each play from either side was hailed and even Robinho who scored against Arsenal away in the current season, took many applausses.





The second half went more calm, with the prospect of a real friendly match. We could watch the introductions of Aquilani, Rossi and Toni, but nothing extraordinary came from them, at leat reaching the 50th minute mark. Lippi's reluctance to play a competitive side, not risking anyhting, brought a mixture of several different lineups that could not be managed to do in any other match. Even with some Italian attempts towards Brazil's goal, such as Toni's chance at 62th, the match grew in favor for the Italian side. Reaching the 71st minute, Brazil showed little or no interest in making another goal, even when the South Americans arrived in many times at the Europeans' side. With some harsh tackles and several attempts the match ended calm enough even to Brazil's goal, which was threatened by several late attempts saved by Julio Cesar.

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.