Confederations Cup 2017: Why Americans should root for Mexico
Are you an American fan looking for a team to cheer for at the Confederations Cup? Mexico is your only logical choice.
American soccer fans don’t have a horse in this year’s Confederations Cup race. Unlike 2009, when the United States defeated Spain in the semifinals and lost 3-2 to Brazil in the final, USMNT supporters have to postpone whatever dreams they have for international glory to next month’s Gold Cup and the World Cup a year from now. With no team to root for at the Confederations Cup, what’s an American to do?
This year’s Confederations Cup in Russia features lots of fun teams. For you neutrals, there’s powerhouse Germany, the reigning world champions who brought along a B team, or Chile, winners of the Copa America and one of the most successful national teams in recent memory.
Maybe you’re a Real Madrid fan. In that case, you can latch on to Portugal, the defending European champions, and continue to cheer on Cristiano Ronaldo while he’s still with the club. Did you fall in love with Cameroon way back in 1990 when Roger Milla tore up the World Cup with goals and hip-swaying celebrations? The Indomitable Lions are representing Africa as that continent’s recently-minted champions.
None of those teams capture your fancy? Here’s an idea: American fans should cheer for Mexico. Yes, the USA’s biggest rival and the team that’s been the largest cause of frustration during World Cup qualifying for the better part of 50 years. Why cheer for such a bitter rival, you ask? Let me explain.
While USMNT fans know CONCACAF is loaded with talent, the rest of the planet ranks the confederation somewhere between Asia and Oceania. That’s to say not very high in the global soccer pecking order. While a North Carolina fan would never cheer for Duke or a Red Sox fan for the Yankees, soccer is different. It’s true soccer rivalries are tribal, often even more heated and passionate than those in American sports. At both the club and national team level, such rivalries are based on geopolitics and/or religion. This Confederations Cup brings forth a different set of circumstances. CONCACAF’s reputation is at play here. A good showing by Mexico would bolster the confederation and the teams in it, the USMNT included.
CONCACAF has gained a measure of respect following the 2014 World Cup. In Brazil, the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica all reached the knockout stage, with only Honduras failing to get out of the first round. As a result, CONCACAF had the largest percentage of its members reach the round of 16. Costa Rica did one better, getting as far as the quarterfinals, a valiant effort that ended when the team lost to the Netherlands on penalties. Costa Rica had gotten that far after winning their group (which also contained a trio of former World Cup champions in Italy, Uruguay and England) and eliminated Greece in the round of 16.
Therefore, it’s imperative that CONCACAF nations do well at FIFA tournaments, whether it’s at the youth, Olympic or senior levels. Since the U.S. aren’t in the Confederations Cup this time around, there’s no reason not to wish Mexico the best and cheer on Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Carlos Vela, Giovani dos Santos, et al.
This past Sunday’s clash with Portugal was a real thriller and certainly got the Mexican fans excited about their team’s prospects at this tournament and beyond. The Mexicans salvaged a 2-2 draw in stoppage time with a Hector Moreno goal in what had been one of the most-anticipated games of the tournament’s first round. Certainly, Los Angeles Galaxy fans were rooting for dos Santos, a twist that often comes about when club loyalty and love of country collide.
“We faced the European champions, a team that plays at a very high level, and we played equal to them. It was a great result for Mexican football,” Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio told reporters after the game.
All Portugal coach Fernando Santos could do was heap praise on the Mexicans.
“Mexico was better, more aggressive,” he said. “We played without confidence, couldn’t connect two or three passes. It was a fair result for how the teams played.”
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Want to blow a soccer fan’s mind? Go to your nearest watering hole donning a USA jersey and take the time to cheer for Mexico on Wednesday when El Tri take on New Zealand. There’s no better way for CONCACAF to show it’s competitive than by pummeling the Oceania champions. A Mexico loss would be devastating and do nothing to dispel the myth that CONCACAF is loaded with weak teams. Vamos Mexico!