Ted's Polish-Mexican Page

Okay...maybe not "Dirty Sánchez," but "Whiny Sánchez."

Mexican coach Hugo Sánchez has been kvetching to the Mexican media that somehow, Wednesday's game was ruthlessly stolen by the yanquis. He never quite explains this, but he claimed in an interview that his team outplayed the USA. For those monolingualists among my readers, that link is near useless, but here is a translation of part of the article:

Frustrating. That how Hugo Sánchez defined the loss of the Mexican National Team against the United States in his debut as coach of the "Tri."

During an interview on Noticiero Televisa Deportes, Sánchez affirmed that the team with the Stars and Stripes gained a victory without deserving it, because Mexico was the team that took the initiative and dominated the game which was held at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Some of this may be Sánchez trying to keep his job, this is his first international outing and the Mexican soccer establishment hasn't yet figured out that the USA is not the USA of 1980.

Sánchez is correct that Mexico outplayed the USA for some uncomfortable stretches in the second half, but their attack also had crosses that went nowhere and often telegraphed their shots to an otherwise unsteady Tim Howard. They threw so many men forward that a more experienced defense (some of the best were not called on to the team) on the part of the USA would likely have resulted in a few devastating counters against Mexico.

The trouble that Sánchez had was that the tactics of his team were exactly the same as one would have seen in Korea in 2002, or even at Foxboro back in 1997. As the USA's play has gotten stronger, Mexico hasn't adopted. He also played players like Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who, despite his hero status, is slowing up and should be retired from national team play.

This sort of "it just doesn't matter" attitude after a loss is unfortunately one of the things fans have come to expect. No game actually counts unless it is in the friendly confines of Estadio Azteca. What will the excuses be like if they ever lose there?


I suppose the gripe could be with referee Mauricio Navarro. The ball caromed off of him right to the feet of Landon Donovan, giving the Canadian referee a sort of assist in the ensuing goal. As some wags on Big Soccer have pointed out, his first touch was better than Chris Albright's.


I actually like Sánchez. His exuberance is what got me into watching Mexican fútbol in the first place. His acrobatic play (he and his sister were trained gymnasts), and yes his occasional hubris, always made for an entertaining match. I saw him play in person way back in 1995, when an Austrian club he was on loan to, FC Linz, played Atlante FC at Arizona Stadium. I picked up a Linz jersey with his name and number on it, and it still hangs in my closet.

Side note, Sánchez is one of a handful of players to have played in both the NASL and MLS. He played for the San Diego Sockers back in 1980, and played one season for the Dallas Burn in 1996.


Not one to be outdone, still unappologetic Mexican 'keeper Oswaldo Sánchez had some rather unkind suggestions for the mothers of US players. Geez dude, admit you screwed up (twice!) and move on. Thank you to Prarie Rose Clayton for pointing that one out to me.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.