U.S. cautions against repeat loss vs. Mexico in semis
CHESTER, Pa. — Christie Rampone remembers four years ago all too vividly.
In the 2010 CONCACAF tournament, the United States faced Mexico in the semifinal match, just like it will Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET at PPL Park. The winner goes to the 2015 World Cup.
It was a stunning upset. The first time Mexico had ever beat the U.S., forcing the Americans into a more difficult route to the 2011 World Cup, where they had to win three more games to qualify.
They don't want that to happen again.
"I don't think I'll ever forget that game," Rampone said Thursday. "As an athlete, you definitely remember the tough times. It's always in the back of my head. We have to make sure we come out with the right mindset and make sure that we are communicating and we're organized and we're decisive.
"We have to stick to the game plan and not get too frustrated, not get too rattled if we're not scoring the first half. We still have to communicate out there and have good body language and work together to solve the issues that we're dealing with in the game."
The U.S. played Mexico in two friendlies this September. The Americans won 8-0 and 4-0. But Rampone cautions against overconfidence.
"It's different when you're competing in a semifinal," she said. "The level is raised. They've gotten better, we've gotten better, so it's definitely going to be a better game."
Mexico coach Leonardo Cuellar knows this will be a different game than four years ago, too, and different from the ones the teams played last month. The 2010 qualifying tournament was in Mexico, they had just been embarrassed by Canada in front of their fans, and they were angry about it.
"Our performance in front of our people was not what we wanted to present and we were very anxious to get back on the field to prove to our own media, own country that we could put on a better show," he said. "We were riding momentum.
"I think the U.S. also experienced an atmosphere they never experienced before. The fence being so close to them, fans being excited. I think we were running on adrenaline and we were in contention from the beginning. Even when the game was tied, two minutes later we went ahead … But that was so long ago."
Since then, the U.S. finished runner-up in the 2011 World Cup, won gold in the 2012 Olympics and has played together year-round.
"We probably have a fifth of what they have (in terms of experience), so that's a difference in momentum both teams carry into the match," Cuellar said.
But Mexico's game plan could frustrate the U.S., just like every other CONCACAF team has thus far. Throughout the tournament, the Americans have had to cope with opponents bunkering down in the box by loading as many as 11 players behind the ball, which makes it difficult to combine and play balls through. Despite the challenge, they've found a way to score 12 goals in three tournament games.
The Americans aren't sure what kind of game plan they'll get from Mexico on Friday. Will they bunker, sit back or press?
"I don't think we can present something the U.S. hasn't seen before," Cuellar said. "We want to make it difficult for them."
Coach Jill Ellis joked that midfielder Carli Lloyd has been ticked off dealing with teams that load the box.
"It's a different challenge," Lloyd said. "This team does a really good job of, when things are going well, everything's great. But when things are a little bit off, or we're sensing something different out there, I think we tend to kind of freak a little bit."
For Team USA, Friday's game is sort of an opportunity to avenge 2010.
"This team had been the No. 1 team in the world for so many years and I'll never forget that game," Lloyd said. "I'll never forget the field, the atmosphere, the frustration, but I think it was kind of a wakeup call. Nothing is a guarantee with this team anymore. Any opponent you play, you're not guaranteed to win, and I think it kind of humbled us."
For Mexico, it's a chance to keep running its program.
"We're hungry to be in the World Cup," Cuellar said. "We must be in the World Cup to continue our program, to continue growing and get the support we need and keep building a structure. We're building from the bottom."