Mexico hopes to continue mastery of Brazil
- by Soccer America , Jun 19, 2013
Mexico is coming off back-to-back 0-0 ties in World Cup qualifying and a 2-1 loss to Italy in its Confederations Cup opener, but it looks to its record against Brazil for confidence that it can get a result to ward off elimination from the Confederations Cup.
''This shows that Mexico has the ability to do it,'' under-fire Mexico coach Jose Manuel De la Torre said of the Olympic victory. ''The players know that they can do it and this is the right stage to do it again.''
Mexico also beat Brazil 2-0, in a friendly last year in Arlington, Texas, and won six of its last seven games in official competitions at the senior level, including a 4-3 win in the 1999 Confederations Cup final.
Six Brazilian Olympians are back with the national team, including Neymar, Oscar, Thiago Silva and Hulk, who started in the 3-0 win over Japan to open the Confederations Cup on Saturday.
''That was a very tough loss for us because everybody in Brazil was hopeful that we would finally win the gold medal,'' Hulk said of the gold-medal defeat.
A Brazil win and Italy win or tie against Japan would eliminate Mexico after two games.
GROUP A:
June 15
Brazil 3 Japan 0.
Goals: Neymar 3, Paulinho 48, Jo 90+3.
June 16
Italy 2 Mexico 1.
Goals: Pirlo, Balotelli; Hernandez pen.
June 19
Brazil vs. Mexico 2:30 p.m. ESPN/WatchESPN
Italy vs. Japan 5:45 p.m. ESPN/WatchESPN
June 22
Japan vs. Mexico 2:30 p.m. ESPN/WatchESPN
Italy vs. Brazil 2:30 p.m. ESPNEWS/WatchESPN
Standings: Brazil, Italy 3 points; Italy, Japan 0.
GROUP B:
June 16
Spain 2 Uruguay 1.
Goals: Pedro 20, Soldado 32; Suarez 88.
June 17
Nigeria 6 Tahiti 1.
Elderson 5, Nnamdi Oduamadi 10, 26, 76, own goal 68, Elderson 80; Tehau 56.
June 20
Spain vs. Tahiti 2:45 p.m. ESPN/WatchESPN
Nigeria vs. Uruguay 5:45 p.m. ESPN/WatchESPN
June 23
Nigeria vs. Spain 2:30 p.m. ESPN/WatchESPN
Uruguay vs. Tahiti 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/WatchESPN
Standings: Nigeria, Spain 3 points; Uruguay, Tahiti 0.
