John Hackworth doesn't strike one as a gambler.

The first three rounds of Hexagonal play have confirmed predictions that this should be the tightest competition since the format was introduced in 1989.

The back of a van in Mexico City's Colonia Condesa is covered with bumper stickers, one of which reads "Jesus Saves ..." followed by smaller type:

After the 0-0 tie, the first question asked of the U.S. coach, by a Mexican journalist in Spanish was, "Jurgen, is this result a victory for you?"

The Americans did just enough to fend off a sputtering Mexico attack to earn a 0-0 tie Tuesday night, just the second time a USA team has emerged from a competitive match at Azteca Stadium with a point.

It was 48 degrees on Tuesday morning in Mexico City, but it should be in the 60s for the USA's World Cup qualifier at Azteca Stadium that kicks off at 8:30 pm local time. For the Mexicans, they'll be playing at temperatures 40 degrees lower than what they faced during their 2-2 tie at Honduras on Friday. For the Americans, a pleasant warming from when the USA beat Costa Rica, 1-0, in the snow in Colorado.

Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre, known generally as a friendly guy, has been quite grumpy since Mexico blew a 2-0 lead and had to settle for a 2-2 tie at Honduras last Friday. He held a curt postgame press conference but kept his players away from reporters, and blacked out the media until a Monday press conference.

Get into the tackles, get some key saves, and get the ball to Marco Di Vaio in the right situation.

The USA arrived in Mexico City late in the afternoon on Sunday and had a light practice in the evening. The Americans are aiming for an unprecedented achievement -- beating El Tri twice in a row on Mexican soil.

Many buildings in Mexico City sink a few inches a year, such as the National Cathedral, which is also becoming the city's version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

What we learned from Friday's 1-0 snowfest in Colorado is what already knew: the Americans are very tough hombres.

My first Mexico City visit for a clash between the giant neighbors' soccer teams came in 1992. We were warned of the altitude, heat and pollution, which made breathing the air in the city built on a lake encircled by mountains equal to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.

Soccer in a snow globe was on display Friday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park near Denver, and in a battle against the elements the Americans beat Costa Rica, 1-0, with a Clint Dempsey goal.

Jurgen Klinsmann reacted admirably to the scathing criticism leveled at him in Brian Straus' Sporting News article about how he's coaching the USA.

Every time the USA plays Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier, there's a lot more at play than just the result.