Easter Sunday: U.S. v. Mexico

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Filed under: Imported

I know there's Jesus Juice to drink and everything, but another sacred event will occur this Sunday: U.S. v. Mexico. The World Cup qualifying match takes place at Mexico City's infamous Estadio Azteca. Here are the vital statistics:

Estadio Azteca is located 7,200 smog-polluted feet above sea level and seats some 115,000 people.

Mexico has lost just once ever at Azteca in 40 years; the U.S. has never won there.

Overall the Mexicans have dominated the Americans, boasting a 28-11-10 record.

Between 1937 and 1980, the U.S. failed to beat Mexico in 24 straight contests.

Recently the trend has been reversed, with the U.S. posting a 6-1-1 record in the last eight matches.

The Americans are riding a 16-game unbeaten streak, outscoring their opponents 32-8 in that span.

Mexico is currently 6th in the FIFA world rankings; the U.S. is 10th.

The dimensions of this match have been ably covered elsewhere. But as usual, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl has the definitive piece. It's not available on-line unless you're a subscriber, but here's the money graf:

As with any worthwhile rivalry, U.S.-Mexico has had its excruciating moments. Like the time in 1997 when Mexico's Ramon Ramirez karate-kicked [Alexi] Lalas in the groin ("a full-frontal assault on my manhood," as the recipient put it). Or the manifold occasions on which [Eric] Wynalda lashed out at Mexico fans in the U.S. ("The more people I had rooting against me," he says, "the more people I flipped off.") Or the 2004 Olympic qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, when the crowd chanted Osama, Osama. Or that epic '02 World Cup match, during which, [Landon] Donovan says, Mexican forward Luis Hernandez turned to him after an on-field tangle and snarled, "I will find your mother and kill her."

This is going to be a brutal, nasty, physical game. There might not be a lot of pretty soccer on display. But it will be spectacular.

Kickoff is noon Sunday. Folks will be gathering locally at The Liffey in downtown St. Paul to take in the match.