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USA will be hosting Mexico next Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio in one of the final World Cup qualifiers. Whenever these two sides meet, good, determined and intelligent soccer is always played. However, the last time these two sides met in Mexico, neither side could break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw. This time around, someone will score.
Jozy Altidore is fresh off a hat-trick in Bosnia in the US’s 4-3 victory in their first ever meeting with them. If he can stay in the final third and find open spaces in open play and from set pieces, he as well as the team can be extremely dangerous.
The US midfield has to be absolutely strong with each player covering their respective blades of grass to the fullest as their counterparts are expected to sprint and dance throughout the entire game.
Mexico recently demolished the Ivory Coast 4-1 in a friendly with the team looking absolutely dominant in each and every aspect of the game – possession, passing, shooting and of course scoring. This team is fast, dangerous, skilled, smart and eager to win games. If that same squad is chosen to play in the states, the US could be in big trouble if Jurgen Klinsmann does not find a way to keep them at bay or at least under their own radar.
This is going to be one of the games of the ages as both sides have it all to play for. The US has the desire to win the group while Mexico want to finish at worst right behind them to guarantee their spot in the 2-14 WC group stages. If one team needs this win more, it is definitely El Tri who currently sit in third place with eight points, five behind the US who are in first just two points ahead of Costa Rica.
Now with that said, the US will want to defeat Mexico at home, especially if they lose in Costa Rica. This is a game that cannot be missed by any American or Mexican soccer fan. Stay tuned.
