Watch CBS News

Crooks: USA-Mexico Soccer Rivalry 101

By Glenn Crooks
» More Columns

At Rutgers University, my daughter will be taking a class that chronicles the story of Bruce Springsteen and his music. Very cool.

While sitting at a café in Columbus, Ohio, I wondered what it would be like to propose a history class that narrates the soccer tale between the United States national team against Mexico.

At 7:45 p.m. Friday, USA will host Mexico in a World Cup qualifier at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus.

"Professor Crooks, why would the U.S. play in Columbus when they have their pick of major cities and larger venues?" asks one student.

Mapfre has a capacity of 24,000.

"Good question," I respond, with my glasses more closely aligned with the tip of my nose rather than the bridge. "The USA team has found a comfortable home in Columbus. It started in 2001 on a frigid night – about 29 degrees at kickoff. The U.S. has won four straight against Mexico at Mapfre, formerly Crew Stadium, and is unbeaten in 11 matches overall in Columbus."

"So is the temperature a big part of the reason the U.S. wants to play in Columbus?" the students asks.

"No question," I say, peering over my spectacles. "In that 2001 match, the Mexican team stayed in its locker room during warmups while the American supporters went into a frenzy. The tradition in Columbus was born."

"Sacha Kljesten, who played in the 2009 match at Columbus, said he wants it to be as cold as possible on Friday night," I add.

"Have those four games been close, or did the U.S. team win by a lot?" asks another pupil.

"Statistically, the matches were pretty close, but the U.S. won each game by the identical score of 2-0," I say. "Hence the familiar refrain from the supporters in this rivalry, "Dos a Cero!' In fact, since 1991, the U.S. has beaten Mexico nine times by that identical score – eight times since 2000!"

"OK, we've known that the U.S. is dominant at home. How have they done when the games are played in Mexico?" asks a female student wearing a Chicharito jersey.

"Not so well," I explain. "The series began in 1934, and the U.S. did not prevail on Mexican soil until 2011. Perhaps fittingly, Mexican-American Michael Orozco's goal in the 80th minute gave the U.S. a 1-0 win against El Tri."

"El Tri?" queried the student.

"That's the nickname of the Mexican team," I respond. "It's based on the three colors of their flag – green shirts, white shorts and red socks – and their home matches are played in Estadio Azteca, the third largest soccer venue in the world, and it's at elevation in Mexico City. It's not a place that you can get acclimated to in a short period of time."

"How does this rivalry rate in comparison to other countries the U.S. faces?" asks a young man donning a Jordan Morris USA jersey and a Seattle Sounders scarf.

"There is no argument here. This is the USMNT's biggest international rival," I claim. "And only recently has the U.S. won more consistently. The Americans had a 43-year winless streak against El Tri from 1937-80 and were outscored 93-20. A guy named Steve Moyers scored both goals in a 2-0 win on Nov. 23, 1980, to end the skid. It was a qualifier for the 1982 World Cup, and the USA was already eliminated. There were only about 2,000 spectators at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale."

"I've never heard of him – Moyers," chimed in a student sporting the colors of both countries.

"Moyers grew up in the soccer hotbed of the time, St. Louis," I started. "He played in the NASL, MISL and AISL, but we can't get too deep into that here. I'll have to create another class for that topic!"

"So how has the U.S. done since that match in 1980?" asks the sports editor for the student newspaper.

"Let's just take the 2000s," I explain. "In 24 matches, the USMNT has lost to Mexico on only six occasions with 13 victories. The most notable win came in perhaps the most vital meeting in the 82-year history of this rivalry when the U.S. defeated El Tri 2-0 in the round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup with a coach named Bruce Arena."

"Was that played in Columbus as well?" asks a novice with wide-eyed interest.

"No, the 2002 World Cup was shared by South Korea and Japan," I explain.

"But El Tri has still triumphed in some moments since 2000," I continue. "They beat the U.S. in the 2009 and 2011 Gold Cup finals while earning a berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup with an extra-time win over the U.S."

"Didn't I hear that the U.S. was going to fire their coach after that?" asks a student with a puzzled look.

"Yeah, and I heard that his job was in jeopardy when the U.S. lost to Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier this year," shouts another inquisitive scholar.

"The coach's name is Jurgen Klinsmann," I say. "He was one of the great forwards in Germany, with 11 goals in three World Cups. The U.S. lost to Guatemala for the first time ever in World Cup qualification. There were unconfirmed reports in both those cases that he might be sacked. But the overriding opinion is that his relationship with the president of U.S. Soccer guarantees job security through the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when his contract expires."

"I don't understand. If the team was consistently underperforming in major events, why would he be treated any differently than coaches in other leagues or other sports?" asks another student.

"Sunil Gulati is the top guy, and he had been desperate to hire Klinsmann – twice – including in 2006 when Bob Bradley was in charge," I explain. "Initially, Klinsmann was offered the job ahead of Bradley but could not agree to the terms. He is Gulati's guy – hand picked. So the feeling is that Klinsmann's job, unless he commits a crime, is safe."

"It sounds like Arena had the national team moving in a proper direction," asks another student, the class now abuzz with the discussion of head coaches. "Would the federation consider bringing him back?"

"That would be doubtful," I say. "Plus, Arena is very happy on the West Coast. He's a Brooklyn kid who lives in Los Angeles. He's got a nice tan and has won the MLS Cup three times with the Galaxy. He's 65 years old, so I think he will probably conclude his managerial career with the Galaxy."

"I read that Klinsmann will often keep the lineup to himself until the day of the match. Is that true?" asks a pupil with a retro Eric Wynalda jersey.

"Well, he did announce that Tim Howard would be in goal for the Friday match against Mexico – but that was a slam dunk decision without mystery," I say. "But it's true -- he keeps his players and his coaching staff in the dark. In fact, players in the starting 11 may not even know the position they will play until match day. Once, in a friendly against Brazil, he started Alejandro Bedoya at holding midfield. Bedoya had never played in that position – not in training or completion. Adding to the insult, Klinsmann yanked him in the 39th minute, and Brazil embarrassed the U.S."

"Why does he do that, keep it to himself?" asks another student.

"No one knows," I explain.

"What do his assistants think?" he adds.

"They don't really know, either," I say. "They have very little input, as it turns out. Klinsmann is not a particularly good listener."

"You said earlier that Klinsmann didn't agree to a contract at first because he wanted more command of the program. What changed," asks someone in the front row.

"He agreed to join the federation in 2011 when the title of "technical director" was added to "head coach," I say. "He has command of the entire youth national program as well as the senior team."

The student follows up, "How have the younger teams performed under his watch?"

"Most recently, the U-23s failed to qualify for the Olympics for the second time with Klinsmann at the top of the coaching pyramid," I explain. "The U-17s fell short of qualification in 2013 and had nary a win in the group stage in 2015. The U-20s finished fourth with a minus-six-goal differential in Group A of the 2013 World Cup. Tab Ramos' group advanced to the quarterfinals in 2015 with a 1-0 win over Colombia – arguably the best YNT result in the Klinsmann era."

A student raises her hand. "Isn't Ramos an assistant to Klinsmann on the senior team? Is he one of the assistants whose voice is not really heard?"

"The answer to both questions is yes," I say.

"What happens if the U.S. loses at home to Mexico and then on the road next Tuesday at Costa Rica, where they have never won?" she asks.

"I don't think that will happen, but if it does, he still keeps his job," I say.

Class dismissed.

For all thing futbol and NYCFC, please follow Glenn on Twitter at @GlennCrooks

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.