Field of dreams for Mexico?
CHICAGO -- Mexico dominated the region's soccer for half a century. But in recent years, the Mexicans have developed an inferiority complex concerning the United States, which has an eight-match (7-0-1) home unbeaten streak against them. In fact, Mexico has scored in only two of 11 games against the US since 1999.
Mexico will have the support of a sold-out Soldier Field in tomorrow's Gold Cup final against the US. But the US has a distinct home-field advantage, evidenced by a 12-0 goal differential against Mexico in eight home games in the last eight years.
"[The US] plays well," said Guillermo Cantu, the Mexican national team director, who is a graduate of Lawrence Academy in Groton. "But also, it's a part of our history, in a way, that we are the only team in CONCACAF that plays with pressure, sleeps with pressure, trains with pressure, goes to the airplane with pressure. That's because of the history we have and the success we have had in the past.
"We can't hide the fact the US has been beating us recently. But you can see in this Cup that it's not easy. The more competitive it is, the better. It's better for everyone. Both the US and Mexico are getting better and both teams now have very good players playing in Europe."
But Mexico is eager to break the cycle of frustration against the US.
"This is the final everyone is waiting for," Mexico goalkeeper Osvaldo Sanchez said. "It's time for the team to go out and have fun; that's our goal. Every game is different but this time we have to win, however we can."
Coach Hugo Sanchez conducted a relaxed, 1 1/2-hour training session yesterday at Moody Bible Institute, then pulled up a soccer ball as a seat and addressed the team for 10 minutes in the middle of the field. The Tricolores struggled to find a rhythm in games in East Rutherford, N.J., and Houston, then edged Guadeloupe, 1-0, in the semifinals. But Sanchez expressed optimism, partly because of the condition of the Soldier Field playing surface.
"It's time to win against the US," Sanchez said. "No, I'm not satisfied with how we are playing and how we played in previous games. But the field is much better in Chicago and it allows us to use our talent and show off the skills of the Mexican player. It should have been 2-0 or 3-0 [against Guadeloupe]."
US players are motivated by the feeling they are like strangers in their own land in matches against Mexico.
"It's a heated rivalry," US midfielder DaMarcus Beasley said. "We don't like them and they don't like us. Even in years when we are playing against Brazil and France, the one game in big letters on the board is against Mexico, that's the one we want to win."
Said US defender Carlos Bocanegra, whose father was born in Guadalajara: "It's nice [for Mexico] to have two home countries to play in. Having a home crowd gives you extra energy, when times get tough, they can help turn the tide, give you a little extra."
A 50,000-plus crowd began arriving for the US's 2-1 win over Canada in the semifinals Thursday, the stands filling in anticipation of the Mexico-Guadeloupe match to follow, spectators expressing antipathy toward the US's Landon Donovan.
"Landon is the most-hated guy in Mexico on our team," Beasley said. "But he likes that stuff."
Beasley believes the Mexicans can be knocked off balance with physical play.
"They don't like to be touched," Beasley said. "We're not a counterattacking team. We like to keep the ball as much as we can. But when we counterattack, we do it well, with a lot of speed.
"Whoever scores first probably will win the tournament. Both of us are attack-minded teams, but when we play it's never a blowout, it's usually 1-0 or 2-0."
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 
