The Offsides Diplomatique

Carlos Ochoa

2009-01-31T13:04:00.000-08:00

Ever since Carlos Ochoa was first called up to the Mexican National team I never liked him. I considered Ochoa an also-ran that had no business wearing the Tricolor jersey. I even celebrated when Ochoa was dropped from the Mexican squad that would dispute the 02 World Cup.

Eight years have passed since my first encounter with the balding striker and while it was easy to pretend that he did not exist that has all changed. Not only was Ochoa once again called up to the Tricolor but he signed with my beloved Chivas de Guadalajara!

I would have thought that if Ochoa could not hack it as a youngster that at the ripe age of 30 he had no business representing the national team much less Chivas. Well, Ochoa has proven me wrong. As the old saying goes “Goles son Amores” and during the Interliga tourney Ochoa won many fans over by scoring four goals and helping Chivas qualify to the Copa Libertadores. Then on Chivas season opener, January 17th which is also my birthday, Ochoa started off in grand fashion scoring a double against Cruz Azul to finish the game with a 3-3 tie. I now have a new found appreciation for Ochoa.

Bravisimo

2008-04-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

Omar Bravo's 58th minute strike, to help Chivas rout Puebla four-nil, marked his 100th career league goal. The Chivas striker had already made Club history, in the 2007 Clausura season, winning the league goal scoring championship. A feat not achieved by a Club Guadalajara player since Salvador "Chava" Reyes title in the 61-62season.

A Season of Faith's Perfection

2008-04-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

With the Mexican National Team in dissaray, during Hugo Sanchez tenure as head coach, I had all but ignored club America's spiriling downfall. I had not been paying close attention, too worried with the on-goings of the Tricolor, to enjoy the rival club's demise.

Hugo is now gone, names of possible replacements have been mentioned, but I no longer care. I am now fully consumed with the car wreck that is Club America. This past Sunday, however, was rather gratifying. Playing at an almost deserted Azteca stadium, against former cross-town rivals Atlante, the Aguilas misserable season made the record books.

A 79th minute strike from Giancarlo Maldonado, a goal which should have been called offside, sentenced the Aguilas to last place in the table. With two match weeks left in the season America had secured being the worst team in the league, not even winning their next two games will improve their situation. Best of all, my beloved Chivas are still leading the table with 29 points, compared to America's 8 points.

Indeed, this is the worst season ever for America which since being acquired by media conglomerates Televisa had made a name for themselves as one of the Mexican leagues top clubs. However, a serious of administrative decisions in recent years has now turned the once pround team into the worst club of the Clausura 2008 season.

Wet & Dry footy

2008-03-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Tampa, Florida - Hours after holding the USMNT to a one-goal draw, in the CONCACAF pre-Olympic tournament, five members of the Cuban national team abandoned the team’s hotel.

José Manuel Miranda, Erlys Garcia Baró, Yenier Bermúdez (Capitan),Yordany Alvarez, and Loanni Cartaya Prieto are all unaccounted for, raising the possibility they may be trying to defect. CONCACAF officials will meet with the Cuban delegation to discuss the situation and they could ask Cuba to forfeit the tournament.

Player defection from the Cuban national team seems to have become the norm ever since the squad begun to regulalry qualify to CONCACAF tourneys. Two players defected in the 2002 Gold Cup. The most famous, however, has been Maykel Galindo. The Chivas USA striker sought asylum in the United States and successfully defected after representing his country in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Two more players left the Cuban national team during the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Lester More, a 28-year-old forward, and Osvaldo Alonso, a 21-year-old midfielder, soon after arrived at Chivas-USA, however, neither player made the team.

Kwa-ta-mock and I

2007-11-04T12:19:00.000-08:00

It has long been said that you either hate or love Cuauhtémoc Blanco, there is no in-between. This has indeed been my relationship with the player. As a Chiva, I celebrated when my beloved Guadalajara put five goals past America, it is one of my most cherished Superclasico moments. Blanco weeping during post match press conference only made the game more memorable.

And when Blanco put on the Tricolor jersey I had no choice but to cheer him on. It was a weird feeling, like cheating on my girlfriend, but it was for a good cause. So, I was happy when he signed with Spanish outfit Real Valladolid and abandoned the wretched confines of the Televisa owned club America.

Seeing Ancil Elcock chop down Blanco during world cup qualifying was brutal but I would later look at a picture of the Trinitarian’s butchery with a smile, as Blanco had returned to America.

I guess the only time I felt confused was when Ricardo Lavolpe opted to leave out Blanco from the 2006 World Cup Squad. At first I found great pleasure in the Americanistas misery, but deep down I knew his presence was needed with the Tricolor.

When Blanco announced he had signed with the Chicago Fire I rejoiced. First because the enemy team had lost their icon and second because Chivas USA would now have the prefect antagonist in Blanco. I even dreamed of a Chiva-Chicago final.

However, with the elimination of Chivas USA from the MLS playoffs I now find my self, once again, on Cuauhtémoc’s side. Blanco has the chance to redeem himself, as he was never able to triumph abroad. His knee injury, caused by Elcock, pretty much put an end to his venture in La Liga, and in many ways Blanco’s desire to play outside of Mexico.

Also, Blanco can improve the image of the failing Mexican star that the likes of Jorge Campos, Luis Hernandez and Carlos Hermosillo left behind in their mediocre run through MLS.

Football Manager 08

2007-09-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was offered the task of helping update the Mexican League for SIgames FM08 and being a football manager addict I did not hesitate. It has been good fun, and while I only have a Beta version of the game the improvements over last years version are quite notable.

What has been most problematic, however, has been updating the Mexican 2nd div: primera A. There is not much infor available from the teams, most dont even have a web page.

Still, the Mexico team did a great job and the top players are all there. Including Leon striker Michael Silva; best remembered from the Chilean u-20 that finished third, and even clashed with the police, in the recent FIFA Youth World Cup.

The Borg – Resistance is Futile

2007-07-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

Jared Borgetti, long dismissed as a washed up player, continues to be the Mexican national team’s leading striker. After ten years with the “Seleccion” only Nery Castillo threatens the Borg’s position as the TriColor’s goal scorer, but even then Castillo has a long way to go before he reaches Borgetti’s 43 career goals.

What makes Borgetti so irreplaceable is Mexico’s scarcity in the center forward position. The Borg seems to be the last in a short line of towering strikers. Although not as tall as his predecessors, Luis Roberto Alves “Zague”, Carlos Hermosillo and Ricardo Pelaez, Borgetti has proven to be far more productive.

The only player that seemed destined to replace the Borg was Francisco “Kikin” Fonseca, whose loan goal against Portugal in the FIFA 06 World Cup did very little to cement his position within the Tricolor. The World Cup was seen as Borgetti’s last stand, especially after his only goal helped Argentina level the score in the round of sixteen match-up.

Still, it would be Borgetti who would bounce back and once again win a spot in the starting eleven. During the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup Borgetti scored two goals, helping Mexico reach the final, while Kikin was relegated to the bench, and later dropped from the Copa America squad.

Borgetti’s also missed the South American tourney, due to injury, prompting head coach Hugo Sanchez to call in Miguel Angel Landin; one of the few young players that can assume Borgetti’s role in the national team.

The Morelia striker, however, saw very little playing time. Which, I find somewhat alarming given that he is the next in line to inherit the Borg’s position, which judging by U-20 squad seems to be all but forgotten. Despite the immense talent of the youth team, none of the players have the characteristics of the center forward.

Going back a generation we get a quite a few players that got left on the way side. Antonio De Nigris was at one point the next best thing; he now seems to be abandoned in Turkey. Others that made little noise but had great potential are Isaac Romo, Roberto Nurse, and Santiago Fernandez, who left the Barcelona youth teams to return to Club America.

Given the lack of options the Borg, at 34 years of age, could very well become Mexico’s own version of Roger Milla by the time South Africa 2010 rolls around. That is unless head coach Hugo Sanchez decides he doesn’t need a center forward or finds someone better.

Double Whammy

2007-02-07T21:24:00.000-08:00

The Mexican national team kicked off their new era, under head coach Hugo Sanchez, with a dissapointing 2-0 defeat against archrivals the Unites States. The scoreline has become a common fixture when both teams meet.

Nery the Greek

2007-02-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

The day after Uruguay were defeated by Australia, for a ticket to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, a sign appeared in front of Francisco "Paco" Casal's company which read "Gracias Paco", it was a mockery of the words printed in the Centenary stadium's electronic board years earlier when Uruguay qualified to the 2002 World Cup.

And today with Nery Alberto Castillo's arrival to Phoenix, Arizona, to join up with the Mexican national team for their upcoming friendly against rivals the United States, I too say "Gracias Paco".

It is after all Paco Casal who is indirectly responsible that Nery Castillo has decided to pledge his allegiance to the Mexican National team. Francisco 'Paco' Casal known as the Godfather of Uruguayan football is the owner of Tenfield, a broadcasting corporation which holds the commercial rights to broadcast Uruguayan football.

Casal is also the agent of the majority of Uruguayan players, specially those in the national team. So how did Casa prevent Nery from suiting up with Los Celestes? Let us rewind back to 2001, when Castillo at the age of fifteen having already debuted for Uruguayan side Danubio was spotted by Manchester United talent scouts after competing in a youth tourney in Brazil.

Nery accepted a try out with the Red Devils and since he took the offer without Casal's consent was removed from the Uruguayan U-17 side that was going to compete in the 2001 Sudamericano tourney, hosted by Peru.

Due to work permit problems Nery was not able to remain in Old Trafford, but he did land a contract with Greek giants Olympiacos, it is believed that Casal tried to block the transfer. Nery has remained with Olympiacos for the past seven years where his impressive displays in League and Champions league tourneys caught the attention of ex Uruguayan coach Juan Ramon Carrasco, who tried to cap Nery during World Cup Qualifiers, however Nery turned down the offer.

Instead Nery's father and agent, Nery Castillo Sr, promoted him in Mexico, doing interviews in television and radio with legit proof that his son had been born in San Luis de Potosi, Mexico, where he once played club football.

With the hype surrounding Castillo he received a call up to a Mexican U-23 training camp, which was preparing for qualifiers to the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Olympiacos did not allow Nery to travel which resulted in media backlash, claiming that Nery was using the Mexican national team to get in the spotlight.

Nery would get another national team call up, this time from the Greek Football Federation, which was willing to pay him seven hundred thousand euros and give him other benefits to play for their national team.

However, it would be Hugo Sanchez, the current Mexican national team coach, who would convince Nery of playing for Mexico. Shortly after being appointed as Head Coach Sanchez contacted Nery and made him aware of his intentions to cap him. Nery was motivated to have talked to the Real Madrid and Mexico Idol and willingly accepted putting and end to years of speculation.

Pachuca Campeon

2006-12-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

Pachuca, Mexicos oldest club, make history as they defeat chilean powerhouse Colo Colo (2-1) at Estadio Nacional de Santiago de Chile to win the 2006 Copa Sudamericana.

Lavolpe's Demise

2006-12-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

Lavolpe's hopes of winning a league title with Boca Jrs came crashing down after the Argentine giants failed to earn one point in their final three games, losing the decisive match to Diego Simeones Estudiantes La Plata.

Guadalajara Tu Ya Naciste como CAMPEON!

2006-12-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

I waited almost 10 years for my beloved Chivas to be crowned Mexican league champions. And it was worth the wait. I suffered through two league finals, first against Necaxa, in the Winter 98 season, quite brutal losing 2-0 at home. Then against UNAM, Clausura 2004 season, which didn't affect me much since the only reason the match went to penalties was because Chivas was gifted with a phantom penalty kick.

Chivas is legendary and I knew that had Chivas beaten UNAM in the penalty kick shoot out would of handed my club with a tainted championship and we are better than that, those types of wins are better suited for our heated rivals Club America.

The most recent failures almost sent me overboard. The previous loses were at the very least acceptable because the club had been bested in the field by their rivals. However the following loses, in key matches, were all due to outside influences.

Chivas having defeated two South American Giants in Boca Jrs and Sao Paolo, and leaving a few other clubs in their wake, were set to make a serious challenge for the Copa Libertadores title. And right before their first leg semifinals match up against Brazilian side International the then Mexican National team coach Lavolpe decided to call half the starting line up, including the on loan reserve goalie, for the Confederations cup!

Thus, with a side made up of bench warmers and reserve players Chivas met their demise at the hands of the Brazilians. Many of the Chivas starters flew back from Germany, after the Mexican National teams 3rd place match loss against the Hosts, to try and battle the Brazilians in the second leg home match, they put up a fight but were too tired to put up with a 90 minute battle.

Again dismantled by the Mexican national team Chivas faced Pachuca in the Mexican league semi finals. This time Chivas almost pulled off the upset. Had it not been for the referee who decided to award the home side with an extra five minutes of overtime! And in the very last minute, If memory serves me right, past the fifth minute, on a corner kick the Tuzos managed to score and despite the 3-2 win, (4-4 global), Chivas were eliminated! Pachuca advanced for having finished the regular season with a better record.

Chivas Apertura 2006 championship win will go down as one of the best in the short season format. Not only did Chivas defeat the three most successful clubs in the Mexican league but they did it with a squad that fielded many players from the clubs youth system, arguably the best in Mexico.

Add to this magnificent run which saw Chivas defeat Cruz Azul (4-2) in the quarter finals. then A 2-0 win o Semifinal win over arch rivals America, with their elimination happening in their own home Azteca stadium, Chivas home away from home. The final couldn't of been more dramatic. Toluca, the best club since the short season format began, with an early lead fail to keep their dominance over Chivas, Who had not been able to record a win at the Devils Cauldron in nine years.

However, Chivas managed to turn their fortunes around and in the second half scored two very memorable goals. Specially the second goal, Bofo Bautista's celebration said it all.
Looking to the sky, after his volley found the back of the net, Bofo screamed to the skies with joy, and with tears shed in loving memory of his mother, he celebrated the goal in all its glory. It was at that moment that I knew Chivas had won the championship, despite twenty minutes remaining in the cup.

Oswaldo, canonized as Saint by the fans, was also playing his soul out. He had yet to win a league championship and was mourning the death of his father. Adding to the list of defunct Chivas was the master mind behind Chivas glory years Javier De La Torre who coached Chivas to five league titles. Don Javier was the uncle of current Chiva head coach Nestor de la Torre. Giving these circumstances winning was not an option.

The victory over Toluca awarded Chivas with their 11th league title making them, once again, the Mexican club with the most league titles. Dale Campeon.

The Re-Vindication of Enrique 'Ojitos' Meza

2006-11-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

One of the nicest managers you can find in the Mexican football league is Enrique Meza. Commonly known as ‘Ojitos’, because of his beady eyes, Meza has finally been able to rise from the deep hole, of football mediocrity, he had buried himself into.

Much like the nearsighted Mr Magoo, whose stubborn refusal to admit his eye sight problem which caused him to get into a series of sticky situations, Ojitos managed to put some serious hurt into many Mexican football fans by refusing to admit he was done as a coach.

Meza made a name for himself as head coach of the now defunct Toros Neza. The club from the municipality of the State of México, known for its ultra violent neighborhoods, under the guidance of Ojitos became one of the best clubs in the Mexican league.

During the (Winter) 96-97 season Toros Neza was the most entertaining team to watch. Fluid attacking soccer, silky passing, and a motley group of footballers, who would even take their team picture wearing Halloween masks, assured sold out games at Mexico 86 stadium. The first season with Ojitos at the helm saw Neza reach the semifinals.

The second half of the 96-97 season (Verano97) had Toros in the leagues Championship match. However it would prove to be a disastrous affair as the club was obliterated by Chivas of Guadalajara at Jalisco stadium. The 5-0 score line saw Neza bow out of the championship final with a humiliating 6-1 aggregate.

Despite the horrible championship defeat Meza received an offer from neighboring Toluca where he would help transform the Red Devils into one of the most dominant teams in the Mexican league.

Sadly, Toros Neza decomposed after Meza left. The city of Nezahualcoyotl, which ironically translates to Starving Coyote, no longer has a first division team; instead it serves as breeding grounds for Central American hooligans, known as Maras, who have adopted club America as their team.

Meza’s first season at Toluca (Invierno97) proved to be frustrating as the club failed to make the playoffs. However, in the follow up tourney (Verano98) Toluca achieved their fourth league championship, the first for Meza, which put an end to the 23year drought the club had fallen into.

Toulca became the kings of the Summer (Clausura) tourney as they went on to win two more titles (Verano99) and (Verano00) for a total of three summer Championship wins. Ojitos successful run with the Red Devils made him the natural candidate for the Mexican national team. And with the backing of Lebrija, Tolucas president and right hand man of former FMF President Alberto de la Torre, Meza soon became the Mexican national team’s head coach.

Important to note that Manuel Lapuente, seen as a heroic coach during France 98, fell from grace after the National teams disappointing CONCACAF Gold Cup where Mexico was eliminated in the quarter finals by Canada, which had qualified from the group stage by winning a coin flip!

Hugo Sanchez, current candidate to take over the national team, then had a brief stint with the Tricolor during the Nike USA Cup, however that team was UNAM Pumas in disguise with the addition of other Mexican National team players.

Meza, who by popular demand was seen as the ideal National team coach, had finally reached the pinnacle of his career. The Tricolor fans expected the National team to play with the same fluidity as Toluca and have the same attacking aggression his club teams had shown. However what they would get instead would be one of the darkest chapters in the Mexican national teams’ history.

Meza’s start with the National team seemed promising. Meza kicked off his campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador followed by a 1-0 win over Bolivia in friendly match up’s used to fine tune his squad for upcoming world cup qualifiers. Then, in true Mr. Magoo fashion the beady eye Ojitos made a series of mistakes that almost caused the National team its World Cup qualification.

Mezas third match, this time a world cup qualifier, against Trinidad and Tobago was the beginning of the teams’ downward spiral. At the insistence of Meza, who wanted to impress in his first official match up, Cuauhtémoc Blanco was brought into the squad.

There was no need for Blanco, being that T&T usually get hammered at Azteca stadium, and the striker had just been transferred to Spanish outfit Valladolid, but he showed up anyways and conducted the team to a 7-0 win.

This however came at a costly prize as Blanco was chopped down in the final minutes of the match by Ancil Elcock. The brutal foul put an end to Blanco’s career in Europe and left the national team without their best player for the rest of the qualifiers.

Without Blanco in the squad the Mexican national started to suffer. The goal scoring dried up and the losses started to pile up. A friendly 2-0 defeat at the hands of neighboring rivals USA was followed by a goalless world cup qualifying away draw against Canada and then another 2-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Argentina.

The start of 2001 proved to be no different. The Mexican national team kicked off the New Year with two more defeats, 2-0 against Bulgaria and 3-2 against Colombia, which only positive note was that after four games the Nat team had finally found the back of the net.

Meza urged the, now panicking, Tricolor fans not to place so much importance in friendly match ups. Ojitos guaranteed that Mexico would show its true face in the next match, a world cup qualifier against rivals USA. Mexico’s subsequent 2-0 defeat in Columbus set forth in motion one of the worst WCQ runs for the National team.

Fortunately for Meza a 3-3 friendly draw against Brazil*, at Jalisco stadium, managed to win him some sympathy points. Mexico fans had already started losing faith in his managing skills and were calling for his head. Defeats against emerging rivals USA are not taken too kindly. * Note: In this match De Nigris, mentioned in the previous post, scored his famous goal.

Meza seemed to have regained some of the teams momentum with a convincing 4-0 WCQ victory over Jamaica, followed by another win 1-0 against Chile at home and then a one goal away draw against the now hated T&T ‘Soca Warriors’, who before the WCQ match up televised ad’s for the game as if a war was going to be recreated in the field.

Meza’s next test, an interesting away match against England, was a glimpse of the ailing fortunes that lied ahead for the national team. An embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Pride Park sent the Tricolores demoralized to the FIFA 2001 Confederations Cup.

Mexico’s title of defending champions, having won the 1999 edition, was quickly tarnished after a humiliating first round exit which saw the squad concede eight goals and only score one. Defeats to Australia (0-2), South Korea (2-1) and France (4-0) coupled with the loss to England had the team taking in a total of twelve goals in four games!

My beloved Tricolor, with their brave performance in France 98 and FIFA Confederations Cup Championship in 1999 was now reduced to a joke of a team. The fans referred to the squad as the National Deception and even boycotted games. Indeed, the pain was too much for the fans to handle and it would only worsen.

With the backing of Lebrija and De la Torre, who had forced out Lapuente, the architect of the above mentioned achievements, in order to appoint Meza as head coach, Ojitos remained at the helm. This decision would prove to be disastrous as the Mexican national team would go on to lose their following two WCQ games and almost bid farewell to the 2002 World Cup.

Meza’s refusal to step down, stating that he was in the national team at the fans request, made him public enemy number one. More so after the Tricolor lost their first ever WCQ match at Aztec Stadium with a 2-1 defeat by Costa Rica. Meza’s next game would be his last as the National team traveled to San Pedro Sula to face rivals Honduras, who smacked el Tri around (3-1) and threatened to take the third ticket to the 2002 World Cup.

After the match a teary eyed Meza announced his resignation. He then disappeared from the football scene, given that Mexico was one foot away from elimination. A thankful Meza only showed his face to congratulate the team after Javier Aguirre and a valiant batch of new players restored the Tricolors honor by qualifying to the World Cup.

Meza’s partnership with club presidents Lebrija (Toluca) and De la Torre (Atlas) assured him a return to club football. After his dismal performance with the National team no other club in the Mexican football league wanted to go any where near Ojitos, still under the scrutiny of the fans who wanted him to suffer ten fold for what he did to the Tricolor. Amongst my friends Meza was known as ‘He whose name must not be mentioned’ for fear of jinxing the Mexican national team.

And so Meza’s first run with Atlas in his favorite time of the season (Verano02) proved to be decent. The club qualified to the playoffs, but where eliminated in the quarter finals. The following tourney, after five consecutive defeats, the last one being a 5-2 loss to Queretaro, and with the pressure of the Atlas faithful, Meza was sacked.

Then to the surprise of many, specially the Cruz Azul fans, Meza was appointed head coach of la Maquina Cementera. Cruz Azul president Billy Alvarez seemed confident enough on Mezas abilities to overlook the black cloud that had been following Ojitos since he had taken over the National team.

Not surprisingly Cruz Azul failed to qualify to the Clausura 03 playoffs. The following tourney (Apertura03) and with heavy investment from Billy, Cruz Azul made the quarterfinals, still a disappointing tourney given the amount of talent the squad had.

The following season (Clausura04) was very painful to the Cruz Azul faithful. And after six straight defeats Billy learned from his mistakes and sacked Meza. Ojitos, being the gent that he is, received an unexpected call from Lebrija, who hoped Meza could regain his confidence at the club he had helped build. However, before the end of the (Clausura05) season Ojitos resigned, claiming he had no control over the squad which was believed to be under the guidance of star player Saturnino Cardozo.

Meza’s career as head coach was believed to be over. His glory days seemed well past him and beyond his grasp. Still the beady eye Meza found his way into Pachuca football club, the oldest club in Mexico.

The Apertura06 season marks ten years since Meza made his break through with Toros Neza. His start at Pachuca was dubious, the team which are the current defending champions, could not find their form. Meza was one match away from being sacked but Ojitos managed to finally turn his fortunes around.

Pachuca is currently set to qualify to the league playoffs, their last match is a home game against an irregular Atlante, but more importantly Pachuca has reached the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana. It is safe to say that, despite what happens with Pachuca, Ojitos has found his road to redemption.

The Talented Mr. De Nigris

2006-09-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

Scoring against Brazil can take you a long way. That is depending on what type of player you are. For a novice it can definitely put you on the map, and in Antonio De Nigris case all over the map.

Despite three glorious seasons with Monterrey, scoring a total of 36 goals, De Nigris shot to fame when he debuted with the Mexican National team in a 3-3 draw against Brazil at Jalisco stadium. De Nigris blazing volley past Rogerio Ceni turned him into one of Mexico’s most promising upstarts.

However, that goal would be more of a curse and De Nigris would soon find himself trotting the globe playing with a series of different clubs and always with mediocre results. Usually scoring on his debut and then going on scoreless draughts.

De Nigris first move was close to home, from the northern state of Monterrey to the nation’s capital Mexico City where he joined the leagues wealthiest club America. De Nigris scored in his debut and midway through the season abandoned America to join Villareal of the Spanish first division.

Villareal at the time was coached by Benito Floro, who had coached Monterrey and given De Nigris his debut at the club. De Nigris would not disappoint, as far as debuts go, and score in his first appearance at the club, just seconds after coming off the bench.

De Nigris then spent the rest of the season riding the pine, with mediocre displays in the few minutes he was given. Hence, the following season De Nigris was demoted to Spain’s second division where he played for the modest Polideportivo Ejido.

At this point Mexico’s once prominent striker slipped into oblivion until he surprised everyone with a move to Colombian side Once Caldas. Somehow, De Nigris managed to land a starting spot in the reigning Copa Libertadores championship team that would go on to play FC Porto in the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup, which was eliminated by FIFA to make way for the Clubs World Cup.

Once Caldas lost the match (8-7) in a penalty shoot out, De Nigris scored his spot kick and then went on to score only one more goal in league play, this time in his last match with the Colombian outfit.

With little luck abroad De Nigris decided to head back home and suit up for relegation bound Puebla F.C. De Nigris who was brought in with the hopes of reliving his glory days at Monterrey would go on to score a total of one goal. And despite his more than mediocre season he still managed to avoid sinking with the ailing Puebla and join Pumas UNAM, which at the time where the Mexican league champions!

Surely this move would be ideal for De Nigris, UNAM’s coach was none other than Mexico’s all time greatest striker Hugo Sanchez who could, much like he did with Francisco ‘Kikin’ Fonseca, ignite the strikers goal scoring flame. Sadly De Nigris would disappoint, scoring a total of two goals, and becoming a favorite target of insults by the clubs vociferous fans.

De Nigris return back home had done nothing but mark him as a washed out player. And with Mexican clubs no longer showing interest he decided to take his chances in Asia, where he had received a contract offer from Shandong of China.

This venture was short lived as the Chinese club didn’t come through with their offer, leaving De Nigris club less. Until, De Nigris pulled one of the most interesting coups in footy history and usurped his younger brother’s identity to get signed by the famed Santos of Brazil.

The younger Aldo De Nigris, playing at Tigres UNAL, ironically club Monterrey’s bitter rival, had impressed Santos scouts in Copa Libertadores play. It wasn’t until Antonio arrived at the club that Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo realized the mistaken identity. Antonio De Nigris, true to himself, went on to play five games and score, his now customary, one goal.

This could have been seen as the striker’s last stand but De Nigris never ceases to surprise and has found yet again another opportunity to play top flight football. The Turkish league is De Nigris latest obstacle and ‘Tano’, as he is known, already scored in his debut and even outdid himself and went on to score a double salvo to guide his new club Gaziantepspor to a 4-2 victory over Cup rivals Keçiörengücü.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Tano somehow manages to make it to South Africa!

Guten Tag

2006-06-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Frankfurt Germany, by the central train station, near multiple porn shops and a Middle Eastern neighborhood. I am here for the World Cup and to follow the exploits of the Mexican National team.

Les Miserables

2006-06-02T01:37:00.000-07:00

All the hype regarding the Mexican national teams expectation in the world cup, advancing past the round of sixteen, seem to have taken a back seat after last nights 2-1 defeat against Holland, Mexico’s second pre world cup friendly loss in Europe.

Even though the Tri-Colores have looked weak in attack, the gloomy predicaments regarding an early exit, based on recent performances, actually help the team. Mexico is a squad that plays best when there are no high expectations. In previous World Cups Mexico have always crashed and burned, in second round match ups, against teams they were expected to defeat.

While some red flags have gone up, the Mexican national team is like most Mexicans expect the team to be, Miserable. Our much-hated argentine coach recently called one of our top strikers, Francisco ‘Kikin’ Fonseca, an idiot, the squad has lost their two warm up games, and the press is beginning to question the teams abilities. Given Irans recent good run, in friendlies, and Mexicos dodgy games, I can see a first round victory lined up for the Tri-Color.

Among the Thugs

2006-05-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Cesar Luis Menotti was in Mexico Last week, at the request of Emilio Maurer, to help promote Puebla F.C. to the Mexican first division. Maurer, once a prominent figure in the FMF, was a key factor in hiring Menotti as the Mexican National team head coach in the early nineties. Since then Maurer fell from grace as some of his dealing within the Mexican Football Federation were deemed unethical.

Helping Maurer in his quest to return to the Mexican top flight is Guillermo Lara, Maurer’s right hand man, who in the past has been linked to Colombian narcotics dealer/ football promoter Jorge Mario Ríos "El Negro" Laverde, who admitted to being in business with ‘Promotora Internacional Fut Soccer’ which belongs to Lara.

Maurer showed enough faith in Menotti that he hired him for two games, against Queretaro whom Puebla faced in a home/away series for promotion, and even flew his squad to Buenos Aires to train under the Argentines supervision. However, things did not go as planned and Puebla lost their home game 2-1 and was later humiliated 3-0 in the second leg which lifted the Gallos Blancos, as Queretaro is known, to the Mexican first division.

Interesting to note is the fact that Queretaro football Club almost disappeared two years ago when the PGR, Mexico’s Attorney Generals Office, investigated one of the clubs main benefactors Geovanni Morantes de Avila, aka "Paul Solórzano", who is believed to have used the club to launder narcotics money. Morante’s dealing with Queretaro also involved Guillermo Lara and Jorge Mario Ríos "El Negro" Laverde.

Juan Pablo "Loquito" Garcia

2006-05-28T03:06:00.000-07:00

I was at the Home Depot Center last night, went to watch the Chivas USA vs. Chicago Fire match up. I was also there to keep tabs on Juan Pablo Garcia, who at one point was setting the Mexican football league on fire.

Until he was black balled by club Atlas for refusing to extend his contract with them. Garcia could have very well been part of the Mexican World Cup roster, but his refusal to submit to his former club’s demands have left him excluded from the MFL which club’s presidents have agreed not to deal with players who are free agents, thus insuring they always get a transfer fee.

Garcia instead decided to try his luck in MLS, which he hopes to use as a trampoline to Europe. A bold move comming to a league where most Mexican players, for one reason or another, have failed in. Heres to JP Garcia, aptly nicknamed 'Loquito', who im quite sure can achieve his goals. Oh yeah, before i forget. Garcia's strike in the second minute helped Chivas USA to their second win of the season.

Gracias Zizou

2006-05-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

A loan goal from Florent Malouda was enough for Les Bleus to edge out my beloved Tri-Color at Stade de France. I was hoping, at the very least, to have seen some flashes of brilliance from Zinedine Zidane, but Zizou was absent today.

Instead, I was awarded for my patience regarding Francisco ‘Maza’ Rodriguez, one of Mexico’s most questioned roster call ups. Maza was one of the better players in the field.

What if we don't make it back, we comin' back. Soul Glow 2006.

2006-05-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Mexican Pageboy crammed in between El Bebe and El Puto Presidente.

Coke vs Pepsi.

Nike vs Adidas!

An older Messi con tres meses de diarrea a la derecha de Fox.

Gringo and Guardado got curls that would make Darryl proud.

El Otro has been knockin' back one too many bottles of Wild Turkey. Dude looks sick. Someone get him a 12 step.

Among the crowd, one can spot Anakin carefully observing the hand shaking between our coach and our president.

- Ed Zeta de Los Angeles

The Sport of Life and Death : The Mesoamerican BallGame

2006-05-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

The first team sport in history began over 3,500 years ago in Mesoamerica. Cities, ceremonies, and a daily life revolved around this exciting sport. But the game was more than just competition. The survival of the players and the spectators depended on the outcome.

Welcome

2006-05-25T02:37:00.000-07:00

"Years have gone by and I've finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good soccer. I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: "A pretty move, for the love of God." - Eduardo Galeano

This is my place in the football world. It is a place between ignorance and dreams.