#usanationalteam

This is one of the most popular and old rivalries in the western hemisphere.  The two teams played their first match in 1934 World cup qualifiers in Italy,when the Mexican underestimated the new world and left for home humiliated and without the so coveted World Cup ticket. The countries have always had a different approach toward the game; like most south american countries, Mexico always had a great acceptance for the sport of football and considered it a huge part not only of their daily life but just in the common culture; on the other hand in  the United States of American football has always been accepted as something foreign and to an extent that has shown in their world performances trough out the years.

The two bitter rivals  in the CONCACAF league, they have played each other sixty one times since their first meeting in 1934, Mexico holding the upper hand with 33-16-12 record. 

One of the more recent games the two have played was a knock out round of sixteen in the 2002 World cup which the Americans won 2-0 and is considered up until today one of the  biggest embarrassments in Mexican soccer. As many other derbies on this side of the great pond the competitiveness has grown not only between the footballers but also among their fans. 

The United States always being looked at as the easy win for their southern neighbors has the chance to rewrite history one more time tonight. They have always been looked down on and never taken seriously for the obvious reasons but I think they are about to surprise one more time as they so often do on and off the pitch. Although, and I'm sure most of you agree with me on this; they have plenty of problems on defense  I believe they have what it takes to take them all the way to Rio next year. This is not to be mistaken for an easy path because on top of the troubles in the back of the field they are also lacking their (and I cant believe the words that are about to come out of my mouth, I'm so sorry scouseland) biggest stars, Tim Howard. 

Tim broke two bones in his back a couple of weeks back playing for the woolybacks (Everton FC for those of you not from Mercyside) against Old Ham in an FA cup match, which sadly takes him out of qualifiers for sure, and leaves american fans praying it doesn't extend into next year's campaign