¿Alzados o panzazo?

Silverbeard:

As a matter of fact, we did face Ronaldinho, kaka, Robinho and co. and won 1-0. The only player missing from that team that is now in the WC was Ronaldo. In fact, we have face Ronaldinho 4 times, and have never lost to him.

Luis:

We saw a completely different match. Portugal was being sliced through time and time again after Kikin’s goal, but our strikers are not the same quality as yours. I think you are the one fixated on the score, because you are unable to see that a team with “lesser talent” than some of your upcoming opposition was able to generate so many scoring possibilities.

At least someone agrees with me:

“Mexico were unlucky”

“Technical analysis by Roy HODGSON (ENG)
Despite some early dominance from the Portuguese when they looked like they were going to run away with the game, Mexico showed tremendous fighting spirit by dragging themselves back into the game and looking in control for large chunks of the contest.

If you look at the first 15 minutes of the game, a Mexican fightback looked virtually impossible. But after the Jose Fonseca goal, the flow of the match changed completely with Mexico creating all the scoring chances and bossing the possession throughout the second period.

Despite seeing Omar Bravo miss a penalty and being reduced to ten men with Luis Perez’s red card, Mexico played the much better football in the second half and were unlucky not to get themselves an equaliser. In the end, Portugal will be pleased that their early, and brief, moment of dominance was enough to see them win the day. The Mexicans merited more than a slim loss out of the game and will be considering themselves very unlucky. “

Rene,

couldnt have put it better. Anyway, 3 things are clear:

1) Group D is D for Dead Meat for Argentina and Netherlands (BOTH MEXICO AND PORTUGAL)

2) Mexico cant win because they dont score

3) Portugal cant win because they have a bad defense

Posted from  United Kingdom

History is written by the victors.

Again, I think i havent said it properly

Portugal deserve their win. Would have, Could have for Mexico, doesnt count. They didnt get the job done.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Jack:

I think that sums it up.

With Marquez back at defense (since I believe LaVolpe learned his lesson), Mexico will not likely lose by a gazillion goals like some people want to believe, but since they can’t score, they will most likely lose anyway.

It pains me to say this, but even though I see them playing better each match, they will not peak at the right time, since we have little firepower upfront.

Just like Netherlands peaked 2 years earlier back in 1988 and then failed to make a statement in 1990, Mexico peaked in 2005 and will most likely fail to leave a mark in 2006.

Mexico at this point needs to play at full capacity to even consider winning next Saturday, and I don’t see it happening.

Why isn’t blanco in the world cup? He is the most skillful player in a generation. Loved his bunny hop from the last world cup.

BTW, i will always rate Borgetti’s header goal the best of 2002. Best header i’ve ever seen in my life

I think Borgetti and Fonseca in a 4-4-2 would work when both are healthy. Why doesn’t Fonseca start regularly? I don’t like bravo – he can’t handle the pressure.

Anyway, good luck throughout the rest of the tournament.

Silverbeard:

Now one here is talking down to Portugal or will. Maybe thats why mexicans are liked everywhere in the world. Now, you are saying that mexicans suck and that Portugal is amazing. Well, should I recall the last 40 years of Portugals history in a World Cup?

Silverbeard:

No one here is talking down to Portugal or will. Maybe thats why mexicans are liked everywhere in the world. Now, you are saying that mexicans suck and that Portugal is amazing. Well, should I recall the last 40 years of Portugals history in a World Cup?

Siver: because this coach is a moron. He left off some controversial and extremely talented players and even supremely gifted youngsters:

excuses give by coach manic depressive:
-devisive
-not team players
-hot heads

Yet, the coach takes some real average players in their place and prime example #1 Perez, mentally melts down and gets red carded. Pineda and Pardo are very average. It’s all a big train wreck.

Posted from  United States

James:

Being fair, they play in much tougher area of qualifiers. Still, it seems it took a Brazilian coach give some order to a very talented, but usually underachieveing group. It is a shame that Futre and Rui Costa’s talent went to waste when they were at their peak.

As for Mexico, we probably need a REAL foreign coach, last time we did, it did wonders (Menotti). The other best option would be Chucho Ramirez, but I have a problem with his lack of experience in Mexico’s first division.

By the way, if we lose on Saturday, things at the FEMEXFUT will be ugly. I can see that jerk Vergara chanting I told you so.

Big Baller:

Are we talking about the same Perez that has been with every national team since the U-15, and who has been coached by several people other than La Volpe?

And again… even as far as 3 weeks ago there were news about Blanco still nursing his legs. He would have not been ready for the World Cup. You guys have a very short memory. Remember 4 years ago? After he was out for several months because of a leg injury and then relegated to the bench in Spain? How was his performance in that Aguirre team? Dismal.

As good as Blanco is, he is not at this point of his career the silver bullet.

Here are the latest odds.

http://www.coral.co.uk/sb.go?page=grouppage&groupid=11597&lang=20&sid=20&ms=MS

Odds have been wrong before.

Ask gamblers how much they cried back when Denmark was eliminated in the second round in 1986. Or when italy was eliminated by Korea.

That is the beauty of football. It is unpredictable.

Rene: Yes, I am talking about the average midfielders, they are all crap. I said before and I will say it again.

For the record, you have been one of the most ardent Lavolpe supporters.

In my opinion: Franco, Sinha, Pineda, Pardo, Perez, and Chiquis are what is killing the team along with the coach.

You’ve been following my posts long enough you know what is missing on Mexico. Speed in the midfield, size and game changers: Bofo, Blanco, Lozano, and Giovanni to name a few.

Posted from  United States

True Rene, but these are sometimes a far more reliable method of ranking teams.

After all, a lot of smart people with serious money on the line put these numbers together.

FIFA
1. Brazil
2. Czech
3. Netherlands
4. Mexico
5. USA
6. Spain
7. Portugal
8. France
9. Argentina
10. England

ODDSmakers
1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. England
4. Germany
5. Spain
6. Italy
7. Holland
8. France
9. Portugal
10. Sweden
.
13. Mexico

I’m just posting this here as an FYI. Mexico started the tournament 50/1 and are now 80/1.

Personally, i can’t believe England is 3rd, especially with Owen now out. Germany should be in the first 3 as well. Brazil hasn’t played well enough to deserve first, but we know how they play when the ultimate prize is on the line.

I’ll admit that Lozano and Giovani are good choices, Blanco is too old and injured to make a difference anymore and Bofo is a dressing room killer and a diva more preoccupied about taking dives than playing.

Quite frankly, Mexico is between generations of quality midfielders. We don’t have too many options and some of them are playing in Germany right now. Reyna might become a good choice, but he starting peaking too late to be part of the process and it remains to be seen if he can keep up the level he showed during the liguilla. As far as defensive midfielders, who would you put instead of Pardo or Torrado? (an please don’t say Blanco or Bofo, since that is not their position).

And I’ll eat crow and admit that Lavolpe has been pretty bad, specially since he did not keep a team of regulars on the field. He has made so many changes from match to match that the team has lost cohesiveness, and the only area that he had left untouched crumbled when he did changes (of course I’m talking about the defense).

So we will have to wait and see if they can put their act together and do something in the next round, although I seriously doubt it.

Thanks for admitting it, Lavolpe is a clown. And for the record I do not take pleasure in being correct. We were all hoping for something…well we got quite the oppossitte of what anybody wanted to see out of EL TRI. His constant tinkering, his outrageous meltdowns with players and the media, his stubborn “i am right your are all wrong tactics”, and above all he has put himself above it all by making himself the center of attention of the team. The only diva is Lavolpe.

Although there is not supreme quality in the midfield in the Mexican league, I would have figured it out in 4 years, that is how long Lavolpe had to engineer this trainwreck.

Off the top of my head: I would have taken Pato, Diego Martinez, Negro Sandoval, Giovanni, but this is all conjecture and whining.

I always said I would judge coach manic depressive’s squad based on results. They have one more game for the final analysis.

Posted from  United States

Yes you’re right

Mexico can’t score and that’s the main problem. And if we add that key players like Marquez stumble in the important matches then we have things like this… Rafa made me remember about his tragical exit of the last world cup when he was expelled from the game with a red card.

I think La Volpe had 4 years to came with a team but never did, it’s a shame here at the world cup we dont have trust on what lineup will be set

And to see he stays with players like Mario Mendez, Pineda, Franco who are soooo low in their level of game… I expect he will stick with the same lineup, La Volpe will put again Pineda and Mendez who are wasting the places that Arellano and Morales should occupy

Posted from  United States

Brau:

Arellano is not capable of playing a full match anymore. He serves more as a “super sub”.

I would love to see Gringo start instead of Mendez and Morales instead of Pineda. I don’t know what happened to Pineda though, he used to play much better than what we have seen so far this WC.

From what I understand, sources say that Franco’s pubitis never left him, and that he has been playing hurt, which would explain why he has been so slow. It is a darn shame since a 100% healthy Franco is a treat to watch.

Hopefully Borgetti will be back for the next match, but you have to wonder that all these months of inactivity plus being out for 10+ days will allow him to be able to be efective. At this point though, seeing how the strikers (other than Kikin that is) have been subpar since the match against Iran, he might be the best choice.

Jack thanks for all the love. Again sorry if you feel we are here knocking you down. If you read the thread you will see that I was among the first to congratulate Mexico. They played well.

By the way, not that it matters, but I for one watched both the Copa Libertadores, Copa America and keep in touch with the Mexican Apertura and Clausura. Oh and I watched Marquez all season long at Barcalona. Not that it matters, but I’m a football fan, not just a Portugal fan!

Posted from  United States

Bro.s, I love Mexico, I really do, and I disagree with Silverbeard as hotly as anyone else in this thread, but Mexico’s trend in the group phase is disturbing. Going from a win to a tie to a lose. Not good signs, meanwhile, Portugal has gone from a win to a win to another win. Hats off to Portugal.
I really pray Mexico gets it together for Argentina. I agree with Baller in that Lavolpe has been messing with the line-up way to much, but then again, he’s the professional here, not me.
Giovani is going to be a great player for Mexico one day, however, he is not ready for this yet guys. Sure, Pele and others came in at a young age, but Giovani is only 16 and has yet to crack the senior ranks of Barcelona’s line-up. He would be akin to Theo Walcott for England.
Give Bravo some credit guys, he has been playing an outstanding game. Sure, he missed a PK, but this tournament has already had two previously missed PKs. I already mentioned this in another thread, but that only means that Bravo will be placed at the bottom of the list for taking PKs from here on out. He has had some, or most, of the better offense for Mexico. He’s knocked at the opponents door several time. Even though he missed some crucial goals, it doesnt mean we should be calling for his head.
Baller has another point: our midfield freakin sucks. Mexico seems to really turn it on when under pressure, but usually when it’s way to late.

Posted from  United States

what all you Mexico fans fail to realize as you sit here and bach Portugals defense and say that Mexico generated opportunity after opportunity is that Portugal let off the gas…we took a 2-0 lead early and Mexico faught hard to get one back, but lets face it, the first half was mainly dominated by Portugal.

The second half Portugal let off the gas, tried to just play ball possession and keep it a 2-1 game, you were creating chances with our two back up fullbacks in the game and a back up defesive mid. Portugal’s defense isnt soft, they just had a tough game trying to operate with their back up outside backs in the game. Face it…if Scolari wanted to be a dick and if Portugal were in the mood, when Mexico got the red (undeserved by the way, even though it was a dive!) they would have stepped on your throats and tried to score 1 or 2 more goals, but they didnt, he subbed players out and continued to slow the game down, we could have done to you what Argentina did to S&M, run up the score on a team with a man down, but we didnt. We migh nt have scored 6 but believe me we would have scored again.

All and all you guys should be happy cause Mexico played pretty good while their best player had his worst game, and feel blessed that Portugal wasnt in the mood to knock you guys out of the tournament when Angola was winning 1-0…good luck against Argentina, im afraid you will need it.

Silveira

Posted from  United States

Yo E! What are you, the psyhic police or what? How would you know what Portugal’s mood was?

Hey Mexico! You guys listen to what ol’ E here have to say? Gosh, we sure do feel lucky that Portugal wasnt in the mood to stomp on our throats, then where would we be! Oh me, Oh my.

Hey E! Good luck against Holland, I’m afraid you will need it.

Posted from  United States

I dont need to be physchic…any soccer fan could tell that Portugal just sat back and didnt try to attack Mexico the entire second half…Mexico attacked and attacked and attacked and Portugal just sat back and knocked the ball around…

And youre right we will need luck against Holland…just like we needed luck against them in the Euros when we thoroughly dominated them and beat them 2-1 (on a weak own goal for Holland) but your right we will need all the luck we can get…

Silveira

Posted from  United States

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Posted from  United States