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Does Mexico peak too early?

May 24th, 2006 | By: John | 6 Comments »

It’s a question that has been gnawing at me for the past few days. We all know about Mexico’s inability to get past the round of 16, especially after some stellar displays in the group stages.

In 2002, they were 10 minutes away from winning all three games in their group before del Piero equalized. But for everything they accomplish in the group stages, they are hollowed out as Mexico has failed time and time again to get to the elusive quarterfinals. They have fallen in a shootout, been caught from behind, and got an ol’ fashion butt whipping respectively in the knockouts.

This time around, it looks like history may repeat itself because if Mexico can make it out of the group stage, they will be drawn against one of the two survivors of the group of death. Is Mexico going to blow their wad again in the group stages?

Tags: Mexico, peaking too early

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Comments

By El Aclantista | May 24th, 2006 at 10:28 am

You have hit a very valid point regarding the Mexican team in the previous 3 World Cups they’ve teased us playing amazingly well in the first round just to set us up for crushing defeats.
I believe this WC wont be the case because players have learned through those growing pains and are mentally better prepared.
Without any disrespect for Angola or Iran but our team isn’t facing a “strong” team until the 3rd game as supposed to previous tournaments where we had to be ready to play against strong european sides.
This team also has more experience in the international stage as we’ve played copa America and Confederations cup and for the most part we have been able to keep with the big boys on those matches.Rafa Marquez playing last week final is going to be huge as he wont be unrattled and will be able to lead and calm players on the field.
Still I just hope and prey that nothing has to be decided in penalty kicks….Mexico will be one of the best 8 teams in Germany.

Posted from United States

By Rene | May 24th, 2006 at 11:10 am

More than peaking to early, it is a lack of killer instinct during the knockout stage.

Mexico played better than Bulgaria and Germany (twice), but were unable to score the definitive goal when it mattered.

Against the U.S., I think taking out Ramoncito so early in the match really hurt the psyche of the players. Since Aguirre got concerned (read, scared), the move actually de-stabilized the team too. Even Aguirre admits now that he should have sticked with the formation that had given him results and allow the player to settle down.

By chuck | May 24th, 2006 at 11:24 am

I’m a fan of the USA, but I want all the CONCACAF teams to do well.

Hopefully, you can get 6 points from the first two games, then rest the key players and the yellow-cards against Portugal. That would most likely mean that Portugal wins the group, and Mexico would be runners-up (meaning you’d have to play the winner of Group C).

As for facing the Group of Death in the first knock-out game… The favorite rarely wins the Group of Death — Mexico should know this very well, having won a very tough group in 2002, and winning the actual Group of Death in 1994.

So I don’t think you’ll have to face Argentina or the Netherlands — one of those teams will be the runner-up, and one of those teams is going home. I think your knock-out game will be against either the Ivory Coast, or against Serbia, and each of those seem very winnable.

Win that, and you’ll face someone from Group A or Group B (possibly the winner between Germany and Sweden?), and nobody in either group look too impressive — very winnable games.

Mexico — welcome to the SemiFinals!

Good luck!

Posted from United States

By Rene | May 24th, 2006 at 11:32 am

Interesting analysis Chuck.

I wish I could be saying that about the U.S., but it seems they are having difficulties as of late. They have lost 3 matches in a row, 2 of them played in the U.S. and against suspect competition like Morocco.

It is a killer that Reyna got hurt in that match. Given the fact that they are in a very tough group to begin with, things do not bode well for the Americans. It seems to me that the Bruce Arena era is slowly coming to an end.

By Big-Baller-Shot-Caller` | May 24th, 2006 at 12:07 pm

Very good points Chuck. Ivory Coast is the dark horse of that group and should be considered favorites because of their stout defense and the lethal Drogba.

Unfortunately, that is a bad match up for Mexico. You never know but our little midfield might not be up to that kind of battle. That is why the France friendly is such a good litmus test. If they can show well against Viera, Zidane, Makelele etc… it will give everybody some hope.

The USA will be fine. They looked rusty. That should have been a draw against a solid Morroco effort. They need to play Dempsey the whole game and bench Wolf.

Arena wants to surprise folks in the World Cup so that sly fox isnt going to show his hand to Italy, the C.R. or Gahna. It seems Dempsey, Convey, Johnson are aces, hopefully the respond when it’s their time.

I have hard to deciding whose uniforms are worse, the USA or Mexico, Nike did a crappy job on both.

Posted from United States

By John | May 25th, 2006 at 11:19 am

Mexico should easily win its group. But will loose a tough match in the round of 16. Here’s my pediction of what happens next…

Lavolpe will be fired. Marquez will not make the WC ideal team; AGAIN. Hugo will yell lowdly with his phony Spanish accent.

It will be a typical world cup for Mexico.

Posted from United States

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