Argentina v Mexico

[davek]

Messi seems like he's struggling to get behind defences - shots from outside the area is one result of that. Ok, he obviously has better understanding with his club team mates, but he's not bursting through defences like he should. Not yet anyway. He looks, at times, jaded.

 

[davek]

TxB, the thinking mans Ghost.

Where is the great man?

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Its not a stereotype against a country. In the NFL you have players from domes/warm weather cities going up north and freezing their behinds off. The Phoenix cardinals went to Boston in the snow got tanked 59-0 and went to the Super bowl that year. F--k I live in in MD (winter temp about 7 degrees C) and when I go to Pittsburgh (winter temp 0 to -9 degrees C) I'm freezing my ass off.

Maybe you see something in Mexico that I don't and maybe your right. As far as previous results go against both "A" teams it for all intensive purposes its been a total wash. We can't beat them in Mexico and they can't beat us in the States. The one neutral matchup was in the 2002 WC which we won and well only a couple players are left from both sides.

Ofcourse it is, your accusing a entire country of being exactly the same. I'm not denying there are players who would struggle in colder conditions, just like there are fair skinned Americans who couldn't play in the heat. But every player is different, they all act and react in different ways.

I see a group of talented players, it's no surprise that most neutrals I've come across have been impressed by them. That's not to say they are perfect, but they do seem to have some very skilled young footballers coming through. And there attitude and energy have been fantastic, and this isn't in the heat of Mexico, it's winter in South Africa.

They played with a freedom and that's what football's all about, I'd much rather see that than predictable, percentage football that suffocates the play.

 

[Brownie]

Messi's got a bit of a Rooney on at the moment.

 

[Rook]

There's a reason why Mexico always plays the US in Azteca instead of say Guaduahara once in a while. Plus the next time the US plays a WC cup qualifier in Bismark it isn't because of the massive USMNT support in ND and the Sioux nation. All it takes is say 2 players to be out of their element on both sides and that's a death knell for teams that are evenly matched up.

 

[Rook]

Messi's got a bit of a Rooney on at the moment.

If Rooney only tested the keeper once in a while, won a match by more than one goal and/or provided an assist. I think Messi has been decent.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

There's a reason why Mexico always plays the US in Azteca instead of say Guaduahara once in a while. Plus the next time the US plays a WC cup qualifier in Bismark it isn't because of the massive USMNT support in ND and the Sioux nation. All it takes is say 2 players to be out of their element on both sides and that's a death knell for teams that are evenly matched up.

Isn't Estadio Azteca Mexico's offical home ground? I'm sure it is.

And it's not like all these Mexicans are Mexico based. The likes Marquez, Dos Santos, Moreno, Guardado, Salcido, Osario, Rodriguez, Vela and Franco are all European based. Some of them haven't played in Mexico (in that heat, at altitude) since 1999. I'm sure it takes them time to adapt aswell.

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

Cracking game that. The Argies are going to be hard to stop.

 

[Rook]

Isn't Estadio Azteca Mexico's offical home ground? I'm sure it is.

And it's not like all these Mexicans are Mexico based. The likes Marquez, Dos Santos, Moreno, Guardado, Salcido, Osario, Rodriguez, Vela and Franco are all European based. Some of them haven't played in Mexico (in that heat, at altitude) since 1999. I'm sure it takes them time to adapt aswell.

Its their home ground but I would think given the size of the country and the size of some of their stadia that they would play a match or two in other cities if Aztetca didn't give them such a big advantage.

Probably but as I said before the cold weather factor might be changing for the Mexicans because they just don't stay in Mexico more. And we're getting closer to beating Mexico in Azteca as well and would at least got a draw in Mexico if LD didn't have the Swine Flu and gave up a goal late in the match.