US readies for tough trip to Mexico

The US men are making ready for their difficult trip to the confines of Azteca in Mexico City next week looking for their first ever win there in 19 tries.  It is do or die for Mexico who currently sit 4th place in CONCACAF region World Cup qualifying for next summer.  Anything short of a win will be unacceptable and could throw Mexico into serious qualification risk.  A US win at Azteca would cause riots in the streets of Mexico City.

The good news for Mexico is that a US side has never won at Azteca.  The Americans are 0-22-1 in Mexico.  It is a nightmare to play at as there will be over 100,000 Mexico fans packing the stadium.  Add to that the altitude along with the notoriously polluted Mexico City air and visiting teams rarely find any success.

This might be the year that the Americans can break through though.  The US will field a seasoned squad that faced difficult tests against Brazil, Italy and Spain this summer in the Confederations Cup.  Mexico hasn't been exactly playing lights out either slumping to a disappointing 4th place standing in qualifying.  Throw out the 5-0 result a couple of weeks ago in the Gold Cup.  It means nothing as it will be an entirely different US squad than the Gold Cup team.

The key will be the US defense.  Tim Howard will have to come big, but there are few keepers in the world currently playing at a higher level after the Confederations Cup and the ridiculous performance he had at the MLS All Star Game for Everton.  Gooch Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra will anchor a defense that was solid in South Africa.  Expect Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark in the central mid and Landon Donovan on the flanks.

The real question is what will Bob Bradley do up top?  Will he play Brian Ching alone as a target forward with Landon underneath him?  Or will he throw the young duo of Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore who gave such fits to Spain and Brazil at the Confederations Cup.  Personally I'd like to see Jozy and Ching and see the US go for the full points rather than play the single forward.  Ching needs to be on the field for set pieces and to hold the ball up in the attack.

The game will be televised Wednesday afternoon on ESPN with pregame shows beginning at 2:30pm.