Mexico 4 – El Salvador 1: Off To World Cup We Go

That’s it. We’re in. It took two years, three different coaches (four if you count Ramirez), a pool of about 50 different players, and lots of ups and downs to finally for Mexico to ultimately achieve the goal of landing their ticket to South Africa. And what better way than with a very convincing win over El Salvador and the safest score line yet at the Azteca.

El Salvador had very little life left in their qualification hopes, and a win would have still made it possible. You could see that they weren’t holding back and they actually made an effort to attack which caused a bit of trouble for our defense. If they had been in the position Honduras had been in when they visited (with good hopes of qualifying) you would have probably seen different tactics. Regardless, we still destroyed them and they’ll be watching us from their TV’s.

Lineup: Ochoa; E. Juarez, Marquez, Osorio, Salcido; Torrado, I. Castro, Guardado (Barrera 89′), Vela; Blanco (Palencia 77′), G. Franco (Sabah 86′)

What I liked most about this victory is that all the goals scored (minus the own goal) were from a mix of experience and youth. Blanco and Palencia, the true veterans and two men that helped Mexico qualify back in 2001, made the score sheet. Carlos Vela, despite having a shabby first touch and a killer bicycle kick in the first half, scored the last one. There was no amateur on the team last night, and also including Guille Franco into the mix, there is plenty of maturity from each and every one of our attackers. Just wait for when Giovani is back. I’m already excited.

Marquez finally made his return to the team as captain once again, but he was really rusty with his traditional long passes and his shots. The entire defense had some difficulties but they were still able to hold their own against the Salvadorian attack. Especially Osorio, despite not even making the bench at Stuttgart, partnered Rafa well. It was nice to see Salcido do great once again with el Tri, and his form looked pretty good on the left of the defense. Our team’s defensive situation, thankfully, is pretty good.

Cuauh, once again, played a match to remember and regardless of age, he has the balls to push our team into the next level. It was his brilliance that gave us our first two goals. The first one was thanks to him pushing through the defense after the awesome one-two’s from the team, and the second was him finishing from Guille Franco’s cross. It would be a travesty not to see him travel to South Africa next summer. He has done way too much to be left out of the team.

From this point on, we can only hope that our players gain good form from now up until next June. Carlos Vela and Giovani (who is currently injured) will be devastating if they have good seasons with their clubs. Say what you want about them having a few years left in order to reach their potential, but you have seen how they are still capable of strengthening our team. The entire team, especially those in Europe, simply needs to work hard and get playing time so they can rightfully earn their place into the World Cup squad. Aguirre is going to have a headache trying to pick his squad.

I will write much more about all of this in the months leading to the World Cup. But just enjoy the moment. Remember all the joy and excitement that we all had back in 2006. It’s coming back, and if you followed the entire qualification campaign you will enjoy all of this much more than the casual fans who just show up when it’s World Cup time.

Al mundial si vamos, y a El Salvador tambien le ganamos!