Iceland-Mexico match at Levi’s could provide U.S. inspiration
One of the great disappointments of the 2018 sports year took place before the year even began. That was when the United States failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup.
But the Bay Area can soothe that burn Friday night. We get a little World Cup preview of our own at Levi’s Stadium:
Mexico will take on the newest World Cup darling, Iceland.
More than 60,000 people are expected to be at the game, and most will be rooting for El Tri. Why not make Mexico our adopted World Cup team?
“This is our second country,” said Gerado Torrado, a former national-team player and the sporting director of the Mexican national team. “We’re comfortable here.”
Because this is a FIFA open date, a full roster is available to Mexican coach Juan Carlos Osorio, led by Chicharito ( Javier Hernandez), Carlos Vela and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Also included on the roster is Jonathan Gonzalez, the American who was born in Santa Rosa and played for the
United States program, but switched his eligibility to play for Mexico in January.
“We are happy that Jonathan is playing for us, and he’s been playing great,” Torrado said, “but he has to earn a spot.”
Mexico has a brutal World Cup draw. El Tri opens in Moscow on June 17 against defending champion Germany. The other teams in Group F are South Korea and Sweden. And if Mexico makes it out of the group, likely waiting for it in the Round of 16 will be Brazil.
“You don’t choose the teams you’re going to play,” Torrado said. “It’s a tough group. We are studying them.”
Could Germany flop, the way other defending champions such as Spain in 2014 and France in 2002 did? Unlikely.
“We are expecting the best Germany,” Torrado said.
The World Cup tuneup will be a high-quality competition. Iceland has become everyone’s favorite team, ever since its magnificent run in the 2016 European Championships, when it beat England in the knockout round before losing to France in the quarterfinals.
Iceland, with a population of 340,000 people, is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. Its fans became famous during the Euros and probably will provide a highlight of the Russia World Cup. Sixty thousand — or more than a sixth of the country’s population — have applied for tickets to games in Russia. The first non-final match to sell out was IcelandArgentina on June 16. The President and First Lady have released a video asking the rest of the world to join #TeamIceland, because “it’s exciting to be part of something big, even when you’re small.”
Like Mexico, Iceland has a difficult draw, landing in the most intriguing group: Group D, with Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia. Mexico will play a friendly against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
This Mexican team is different than the ones on which Torrado played. During his era, only a couple of Mexican players played in Europe. Now, there are more than a dozen, as well as youth teams, that frequently compete internationally. The Mexican players will be taking on opponents stocked with players whom they see on a regular basis during club competition.
“That changes the mentality,” Torrado said. “These players have been playing most of their careers in Europe. The way they train and compete is better. The mentality of the Mexican players is now they know they can play anywhere.”
Torrado played in three World Cups: 2002, 2006 and 2010. His team was eliminated twice by Argentina (in 2006 and 2010) and, most surprisingly, by the United States in 2002.
“I’m really surprised they didn’t make it,” Torrado said of the current U.S. team. “It’s still always tough playing against them. I think they’re going to try to fix things. This will be a growth moment for them.”
We’ll see what happens in the future with the American team. Will the team get it together, after missing its first World Cup since 1990? Will Mexico and the United States, along with neighbor Canada, win the right to host the 2026 World Cup or will the bid be derailed by antiAmerican backlash?
Will Americans adopt their neighbor this summer as the team to root for?
“Sports is for that, to bring people together from all nationalities,” Torrado said. “We will try to do our best for them.”