The USA and Mexico will kick off their Hexagonal campaigns on Friday, as the two teams renew their rivalry in qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Six teams are left in the CONCACAF section of qualifying, with three tickets for the World Cup and one spot in the play-offs available. Both teams are expected to qualify, but both also are looking for a good start on Friday.
El Tri didn't lose a single match in the fourth round of qualifying, while the USA had to battle hard to keep Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala at bay.
Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming clash.
Date: Friday, November 11
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET/12:45 a.m. GMT (Saturday)
Venue: Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
TV Info: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.)
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go, fubo.tv
Preview
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USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann has opted for a young selection with an eye on the qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica. He has called up the likes of Lynden Gooch, Julian Green and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Injuries played a large part in that selection―Clint Dempsey and Geoff Cameron are currently sidelined, for instance. It will be up to some of these youngsters to pick up the slack.
The Stars and Stripes will have plenty of experience in key areas on the pitch, however. As shared by U.S. Soccer's official Twitter account, 2014 FIFA World Cup hero Tim Howard will be in goal,. He's ecstatic to get to work:
#USMNT veteran @TimHowardGK talks being named first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Friday's #USAvMEX #WCQ clash: ussoc.cr/2feWjpo
Omar Gonzalez is the favourite to replace Cameron in the starting XI, thanks to his playing time in Mexico. Steve Birnbaum has played well whenever Klinsmann has called on him. But he hasn't played a competitive match in two weeks due to the MLS play-offs.
Much of the attention will go to Borussia Dortmund starlet Christian Pulisic. He continues to impress in the Bundesliga and ranks as the USA's most promising young talent right now.
Klinsmann is a fan of the 18-year-old, as reported by NBC Sport's Joe Prince-Wright:
This player’s potential is limitless. I’ve always said, you need to write your own story and he’s doing it right now. I think it’s rare in America for a player to be so developed at such an early age, but in Europe if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. He’s taken things in his own hands. He’s the piece of the puzzle we were hoping for this year and he’s a great example to other young players about how to go for it – to play at the highest level and prove yourself.
The teenager played well in the Stars and Stripes' last few outings, but he's still a young and inexperienced player who will feature in his first-ever Hexagonal. And while the likes of Costa Rica have good squads, El Tri are a completely different beast.
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Mexico have a deep squad, and the team can afford to bring stars like the in-form Carlos Vela off the bench. With Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos running the show in attack, their offensive firepower is impressive. However, El Tri have a solid, disciplined defence as well.
As ESPN FC's Tom Marshall reported, veteran defender Rafa Marquez, who has been on the receiving end of several crushing defeats at the hands of the Americans these last few years, is out for vengeance:
The good thing about football is that it gives you revenge. We've not done well here [in the past] and this is a new opportunity to trust in the group and the coach and get three important points.[…]This is a new time, almost half our team is [playing] in Europe and I think that is interesting.
The USA have dominated Mexico in Columbus over the years. But with form and experience on the side of El Tri, Friday's clash could reverse that trend.
It should be a hard-fought opener that will set the tone for the rest of the Hexagonal. Both teams are anxious to get a good start.
Prediction: USA 1-1 Mexico
