USA look to end their Azteca Nightmare

The Estadio Azteca, nestled in the neighborhood of Saint Ursula in Mexico City has been the site of two World Cup Finals in 1970 and 1986, the "Game of the Century" a 4-3 ET Italy victory over West Germany in that same 1970 World Cup and tomorrow afternoon, it will be the site of what many are calling, the most anticipated World Cup Qualifier in the storied rivalry of the United States and Mexico. The match is set to take place at 1pm PST (3pm Mexico City Time), when the sun and smog should be at their highest intensity giving Mexico the advantage due to their familiarity with the elements.

The Americans are riding high after their second place finish at the Confederations Cup tournament enter the stadium with a record of 0-22-1, surrendering 80 goals while only scoring 14 (the last coming 4 years ago). History does not bode well for the Americans but the team is defiant in the face of the adversity.

The American squad is anchored by the stars of the tournament in South Africa such as Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Charlie Davies and Landon Donovan while bringing in only three players who were featured on the failed Gold Cup squad. In addition to the past failures of the US squad in Mexico, the 5-0 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final adds an additional motivation for a team that was riding high after South Africa. In a recent interview with BSB, one of those participants, who was left off the roster for Mexico City, Robbie Rogers gave us his commentary.

"We need payback. I think that this is the time that US beats Mexico in Mexico. I've watched those guys in South Africa and, they looked dangerous and compact and everyone was working for each other." Rogers comments underline the motivation of the "A"Squad who are eager to dispel Team USA's demons at the "Coloso de Santa Úrsula"

For Mexico, the name of the game is not payback but survival. Despite the team's 5-0 victory over the United States in the Gold Cup, the team still sits in the 4th place slot in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying and would be due to face a playoff against a South American opponent if Qualifying ended today. Should Mexico win the match against the United States,the team will have a much easier route into the World Cup. However, a loss could potentially cripple El Tri's pursuit of World Cup glory as a loss will put them in a must win scenario in their next three matches including a trip to face Costa Rica on the hard turf of the infamous Estadio Saprissa.

To prepare for the match, BSB has provided our projections for the lineups that Bob Bradley and Javier Aguirre will use in this vital match up

USA (4-4-2) "The Bucket Formation"

------------------------------Tim Howard-----------------------------------------

--Jonathon Spector----Oguchi Onyewu----Jay DeMerit----Carlos Bocanegra(Cpt)--

--------------------Michael Bradley---------Ricardo Clark------------------------------

--Clint Dempsey----------------------------------------------------Landon Donovan--

---------------------Brian Ching------------Charlie Davies----------------

The two crucial decisions that Bob Bradley has to make are at the forward spot and at Right back. It is a case of experience versus form for forwards as either Brian Ching or Jozy Altidore will earn the spot up top against an inform Charlie Davies. Ching has the experience and the skills to set the ball for both Donovan and Dempsey. At right back, Bradley faces the decision of playing veteran Steve Cherundolo or Jonathon Spector. Despite Cherundolo's experience and his skills on the right side, Spector's performance in the Confederations Cup may have earned him the starting nod.

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Mexico (4-1-2-1-2) "Diamond Formation"


--------------------Nery Castillo-----------Carlos Vela----------------

--------------------------Cuauhtémoc Blanco---------------------

----Andrés Guardado--------------------------Giovani Dos Santos----

--------------------------Gerardo Torrado (capt.)-------------------------

--Carlos Salcido---Efraín Juárez ---Jonny Magallón---Ricardo Osorio

--------------------------Guillermo Ochoa---------------------------------

The Mexican roster presents numerous difficulties for El Tri manager, Javier Aguirre in the attacking half of the field. The stellar play of Miguel Sabah during the Gold Cup may warrant a start for the Monarcas forward, however, the smart bet is that Aguirre will not be able to overlook the impact that Carlos Vela had when being entered to the team's 5-0 victory over the US in New York City. Cuauhtémoc Blanco who went a full 90 minutes in the Chicago Fire's match on the weekend, which may make it difficult for the him to start against the United States. Should Aguirre decide to hold Blanco out of the start of the match look for Castillo to be moved to off the forwards with Guillermo Franco getting the start alongside Vela or Sabah.
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Projection:

Moreso than any match that the United States has played in this "Summer of Soccer", it will be in the "halls of Montezeuma" that we will be able to gage the development of this US team as well as their prospects for escaping the Group stages in South Africa. For Mexico, the match is vital for morale for a team that with World Cup expectations. Should El Tri to fall to its hated rival on its home soil, the team may tailspin.

For this match, expect constant physicality as both teams try to establish their game plan, however, do not expect a counter attacking battle as we have seen in pass matches but rather a much more open match up. On this afternoon, however, the United States may be able to take finally free themselves of the demons of the Azteca

SCORE: United States 2 Mexico 1