Mexico at The Azteca is Really Something Special

[Steeeeeeeeeed]

The Azteca atmosphere in the first half was incredible, and Mexico were full on aggressive attack mode with Raul as a kind of forward pivot for all the runners, they were very good indeed.

England, you really have your work cut out if you get past Dr. Congo. Also, beware that the Ecuador players hardly slept as a load of Mexican fans partied outside their hotel all last night.

Mexico scaled it down the 2nd half, but that first half was a bit nuts.

[General]

Not sure I'm a fan of fans messing around outside hotels of opposition teams to give their own team an advantage. Should just be about football. Get why they're doing it, but just not really on or in the nature of sport.

Great to see Raul and Mexico through and will prove a tricky opponent. Know if the match will be in the US or Mexico? May make no difference as lots of Mexicans in US perhaps.

So far though it looks like we've had a clean sweep of players progressing to the last 16, which must be a first? I include Raul in that, as he was a fulham player last season leading into the summer.

I'm not 100% why we let him go though, he's clearly still got it and could do a job for us

[Jim©]

Their competitive record at this stadium is 70 wins from 89 games, with 17 draws and only two defeats.

[Southcoastffc]

I agree re Raul. I'd have tried hard to keep him another year at least (but we may have other plans or he may have wanted to go anyway)


From someone I know in Mexico City....

 I'm at the Mexico match. Sitting right on the half way line. Next to the tunnel. I'm wearing my Fulham shirt. I shouted at Raul Jimenez when he came out - muchas gracias por todo en Fulham.**He gave me a thumbs up and winked at me. 

**"Thanks v much for everything at Fulham "

[demeant0r]

I'm so happy for Raul, what a player he is.

[bill taylors apprentice]

Not sure I'm a fan of fans messing around outside hotels of opposition teams to give their own team an advantage. Should just be about football. Get why they're doing it, but just not really on or in the nature of sport.

Great to see Raul and Mexico through and will prove a tricky opponent. Know if the match will be in the US or Mexico? May make no difference as lots of Mexicans in US perhaps.

So far though it looks like we've had a clean sweep of players progressing to the last 16, which must be a first? I include Raul in that, as he was a fulham player last season leading into the summer.

I'm not 100% why we let him go though, he's clearly still got it and could do a job for us

As much as I admire Raul I think we all know why we are not re-signing him.
The combination of age, the salary he can still demand and the signing on fee as a free agent he will get is too big a financial burden for us.

Also, possibly clearing the way for a new 1st choice CF is a factor.

[Southcoastffc]

Not sure I'm a fan of fans messing around outside hotels of opposition teams to give their own team an advantage. Should just be about football. Get why they're doing it, but just not really on or in the nature of sport.

Great to see Raul and Mexico through and will prove a tricky opponent. Know if the match will be in the US or Mexico? May make no difference as lots of Mexicans in US perhaps.

So far though it looks like we've had a clean sweep of players progressing to the last 16, which must be a first? I include Raul in that, as he was a fulham player last season leading into the summer.

I'm not 100% why we let him go though, he's clearly still got it and could do a job for us

As much as I admire Raul I think we all know why we are not re-signing him.
The combination of age, the salary he can still demand and the signing on fee as a free agent he will get is too big a financial burden for us.

Also, possibly clearing the way for a new 1st choice CF is a factor.

I really hope your last sentence is the reason. I'm not confident though!

[Eton White]

I watched the highlights on Iplayer this morning and Mexico did look good. Great to see Raul score, and the first goal was real quality.

I've always had a soft spot for them ever since Mexico 86, though obviously hoping we give them a drubbing in the last 16.

It won't be easy though, and we still have to get past Congo of course!

[jayffc]

Not sure I'm a fan of fans messing around outside hotels of opposition teams to give their own team an advantage. Should just be about football. Get why they're doing it, but just not really on or in the nature of sport.

Great to see Raul and Mexico through and will prove a tricky opponent. Know if the match will be in the US or Mexico? May make no difference as lots of Mexicans in US perhaps.

So far though it looks like we've had a clean sweep of players progressing to the last 16, which must be a first? I include Raul in that, as he was a fulham player last season leading into the summer.

I'm not 100% why we let him go though, he's clearly still got it and could do a job for us

As much as I admire Raul I think we all know why we are not re-signing him.
The combination of age, the salary he can still demand and the signing on fee as a free agent he will get is too big a financial burden for us.

Also, possibly clearing the way for a new 1st choice CF is a factor.

I really hope your last sentence is the reason. I'm not confident though!

Why not out of interest?

It's been confirmed very openly we were in for Ricardo Pepi to the point of a medical just this January so clearly we were looking for the Raul replacement before he'd even left, and for a large fee. I've very little doubt that we we'll be spending a fair bit on a starting striker this summer.

[Southcoastffc]

Simply because transfer dealings are rarely straightforward- sometimes they fall our way (eg the extremely fortunate acquisition of Mitro) and sometimes they fall the other way.

[Jim©]

Simply because transfer dealings are rarely straightforward- sometimes they fall our way (eg the extremely fortunate acquisition of Mitro) and sometimes they fall the other way.

That's quite a statement- picking one supposed transfer that urban myth seems to think was done via text at an airport?
There's plenty of other positive transfers- Robinson, Tete, Bassey, Diop, Leno, Lukic, Berge, Raul, Willian, Wilson etc etc etc.

Yes, they're rarely straightforward for any club and TK did allude to wanting to wait to save money but admitted it caused a bit of anger from Marco. I don't think we'll see things get much earlier unfortunately.

[roberto w6]

The Azteca atmosphere in the first half was incredible, and Mexico were full on aggressive attack mode with Raul as a kind of forward pivot for all the runners, they were very good indeed.

England, you really have your work cut out if you get past Dr. Congo. Also, beware that the Ecuador players hardly slept as a load of Mexican fans partied outside their hotel all last night.

Mexico scaled it down the 2nd half, but that first half was a bit nuts.

Very hard place for European teams to go and get a result at any time.
With a strong Mexico team like this one, it will be tougher still

[perry geyton]

They've played every game at the same ground, zero traveling and they are climatized to the high elevation, that's why they like to play there,  smells like BS to me

 Once and if we get past Congo and only then I will start contemplating  it,

[Southcoastffc]

Simply because transfer dealings are rarely straightforward- sometimes they fall our way (eg the extremely fortunate acquisition of Mitro) and sometimes they fall the other way.

That's quite a statement- picking one supposed transfer that urban myth seems to think was done via text at an airport?
There's plenty of other positive transfers- Robinson, Tete, Bassey, Diop, Leno, Lukic, Berge, Raul, Willian, Wilson etc etc etc.

Yes, they're rarely straightforward for any club and TK did allude to wanting to wait to save money but admitted it caused a bit of anger from Marco. I don't think we'll see things get much earlier unfortunately.

Not an urban myth BTW re Mitro- pretty well documented and, tho I can't say too much because I don't want to get anyone in trouble,  his transfer was an extremely late call, fortunately facilitated by someone who used to work at the FA.

[Carborundum]

Atmosphere in the stadium very important, but what truly sets it apart is altitude.  If your body isn't acclimated and I don't see how the England (or for that matter the DRC) team's can be, then that's a major, major problem.  Even for those acclimated, they have to know how to play at altitude, not as individuals but as a team.  The Mexican lads all do. 

Not been to Mexico City, but spent a week working somewhere just a little higher.  Climbing flights of steps was just plain weird.  Shuttle runs? I'd have been unconscious.

I was speaking with a couple of South Africans the other day who were at a loss as to how bad their team was in the opener, then reasonably competent. Altitude.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves.

[Chi_FFC]

I'm not 100% why we let him go though, he's clearly still got it and could do a job for us

He's 35, would have been relatively expensive to re-sign and most importantly his productivity had really started to fall off a cliff for us (1 non penalty goal every 199 minutes in 23-24, 1 every 277 minutes in 24-25 and 1 every 438 minutes in 25-26). Frankly, I suspect letting him leave was a fairly easy decision for the club to make.

[FulhamKC]

They've played every game at the same ground, zero traveling and they are climatized to the high elevation, that's why they like to play there,  smells like BS to me

 Once and if we get past Congo and only then I will start contemplating  it,

Why is playing all their games at their national stadium BS? They are a host. I suspect England would get all their games at Wembley if/when England are WC hosts.

[FulhamKC]

Mexico haven't lost a competitive match at the Azteca since 2013

[Steeeeeeeeeed]

Ben Nevis is 1,345 metres (4,413 feet) above sea level.

The Azteca Stadium is 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level

[YankeeJim]

Azteca. Quite a place.
The altitude is over 7000 feet. The crowds are very loud and of course partisan. The US had a match there some years back and the players on corners and throws were pelted with all sorts of things. One was hit by a plastic bag of urine. Thankfully, you won't have to play with a COCACAF ref. They make VAR seem accurate. Hopefully the weather will remain cool as it has been. It gets over 90 on a regular basis and the humidity can be that high as well.

Oh, and Mexico has been playing well. It will be interesting.