Published 2/3/2007 8:03:59 PM by Associated Press from Mexico City (AP)

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco said Friday that next's week friendly match against the U.S. team in Phoenix probably won't be very friendly. A leader for Mexico City's America squad, Blanco's temper and volatile behavior has made him a bad boy of Mexican soccer.

"It's more than a game to me. I don't have friendly matches, much less against them (the U.S.). I try to win on every level. I hate losing," Blanco told a news conference.

Blanco, 34, is one of 23 Mexicans selected by the coach Hugo Sanchez for the Feb. 7 game. Personal problems with the former national team coach Ricardo Lavolpe reportedly kept him out of the Mexico squad that played at the World Cup in Germany last year.

"I'm happy to be back in the Mexican squad," Blanco said. "It's very important to face the United States. It's a classic, and the rivalry is very strong. "It's encouraging to be back, everybody likes to play for the national team. I don't want to talk about the past. Let's live in the present".

Despite being an aggressive player, especially against the United States, Blanco said that he doesn't hate the Americans. "I don't hate them. It's a big rivalry, like the one we have against Chivas. It's the same with the Mexican team when we play against them," he said.

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