Tickets! Tickets! Tickets!

Usually when my dog freaks out and starts barking bloody murder, there is no one even there, but he thought he might have seen or maybe heard something go by out front, and I thought this time was no different.  I was home for a quick Thursday lunch walk and was getting ready to head back to school when he went ape.  I figured no one was really at the door and went to pull him away and shut him up when I saw there was indeed a bright yellow uniform walking up the drive.  It didn't register at first but as I squeezed out the door and she asked, "Where ya goin?" but I instantly realized that this package was the last key component to the trip: the actual freaking tickets to the games!  I actually "whooped" in the poor woman's face (also setting off the dog again).  I signed for them and literally ran inside to open them up, (and open I did over the next few minutes , as each and every single ticket-not even a pair to the same game could be placed together-came in a separate envelope with its own separate two-page letter-what a waste of paper).  I set them all out on the table and texted the picture to my wife at work, as well as a few friends.  They looked real nice and I am not shy about showing the picture to people. We might just keep those Bosnia-Iran tickets as a souvenir.

That evening, we checked out exactly where our seats are for each game and they all look great.  The Recife stadium looks amazing and with only 42,ooo seats, every section has fantastic sightlines.  Our closest to the field seats might actually be the ones at the Marakana in Rio.

Lastly, to top it off, the next day our vouchers for our FIFA hotels came as well. I guess we better start packing! 

Gooooooooooooooooolllllllll!

At least it finally felt that way. If you are a Unitedstatesian and you have not applied for your visa yet you had better get on it yesterday as it is a total clusterfu...at the Brasilian consulates.  For us it was over a six week ordeal of waiting and wondering.  About a month after we had originally sent in our documentation, and still a few weeks after we corrected our screw-ups, Monday, April 21, and we still had not heard anything about the visa.  So I called Rachid at Travisa again, and he of course had some bad news that he hadn’t been able to notify us about yet.  The consulate had updated requirements yet again for the World Cup Visa to include having to show actual tickets, since FIFA announced that tickets were starting to be delivered (although currently only available for pickup in Brasil).  Are you freaking kidding me?!  So, now we would have to wait until our tickets arrived and send them down to Houston as well?!  Don’t they realize that we will be spending a ton of money in their country?!  I asked him to please at least to confirm if we could just send one game set of tickets, instead of all of them. 

When he called back 10 minutes later, I assumed it was to tell me that, indeed, I would need to send them all of my tickets.  However, I was elated when he said he had good news this time and that my Visa was good to go and Amy’s would be soon (not sure why they were not together)!  Yes!  I rushed off to an appointment and told Amy there.  

Too good to be true though. When I got home, there was an email from Rachid saying that for some reason Amy’s had not gone through yet (^&Y$*$!) and that she would n0w need to supply actual tickets in order to receive her visa. I still never understood why her stuff was submitted separately.  This was becoming a total nightmare joke, basically so that the consulate and country can make less than $200 (the difference between the cost of a regular tourist Visa and a special World Cup Visa).  We decided to just plunk down the extra $165 and get her a regular tourist visa.  It was still a full week later before we finally got the notification email that both visas were completed and in the mail.  However, I still refused to post this until we had the actual visas in hand and had checked everything for correctness.  

When my dog Jorge freaks out barking bloody murder because he thought he might have heard something from the direction of the front door, I usually get pissed off, but when I caught a flash of the “FedEx” logo driving out of view when I got near the door, a big smile came across my face.  Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 3:42 P.M. I opened the door, leaned down, picked up the thin package and ripped it open before I had even closed the door.  Incredibly, everything appeared to be in order, even though Amy's is dated a full EIGHT days later than mine.  Needless to say Travisa did not get a stellar survey evaluation from us-I only wish I could give the Brasilian consulate some constructive feedback as well .

Therefore, by the posting of this piece I am confirming, repeat I am confirming, that all systems are GO!  All we have left to do is pack! (And a lot more on that to come.)

Fairy Tale Continues-Itinerary Complete (except for that ^%&*! Visa)

     This time the last ticket draw opened an hour earlier than before, 4:00AM Colorado time and I was ready to log in as soon as it was open.  The adrenaline was again starting to pump, even without coffee yet.  The reports had stated that there were indeed some tickets available-how many or what type we didn’t know-for the USA-Germany matchup.  I had already tried a few times to get in, only receiving the same message page about the ticket accounts not being available until today.  But at 3:59, when I once again clicked on “My Ticket Account”…I was quickly switched over to...another little adrenaline surge and boy was I wake now...the page that showed I was in a virtual queue, again left waiting at an ungodly hour for my chance to snag this last elusive ticket (and giving me time to start this post, which helped keep me focused and awake).  

    Every minute or so the page flashed and went through some sort of a refresh, and every time you are momentarily deceived into thinking it is finally redirecting you.  This went on seemingly forever, I got the coffee going, got my first cup, finished it.  I was pretty sure that it was going to be too late by the time I got access and I was getting pretty frustrated. 

    Eventually, after well over an hour of staring and yawning, at 5:01 I got in! I knew right where to go and clicked on the “availability” link, scrolled down to game 45 where it said there was...YES!!!...“medium availability” for all ticket levels to the game!  I clicked, and have become pretty adept at typing in my credit card number quickly, so a couple more clicks, took me a second to find the "checkout" and...now I need to buy USA jersey!  

   We are still stunned that the scheduling and ticketing for this trip has worked out so well.  If you had just given me the draw, I am not sure I would have picked out much different of an itinerary.  We are going to three incredible cities and getting to see our two favorite teams (Mexico and USA), three world powerhouses (Italy, Portugal, Germany-twice), plus Costa Rica, and a knockout round game (that will likely match Columbia against Italy or Uruguay) in possibly the most fabled soccer stadium in the world Estadio Marakana.  Unbelievable!

    The only negative really is that tickets to Bosnia-Iran in Salvador (we hold two from early tickets rounds before the draw) are the absolutely least desired match on the entire schedule (it has seriously been reported that more tickets are available for this match than any other with Greece/Ivory Coast in Fortaleza a close second, plus I have seen a lot of these undesired tickets already available on the internet and Twitter from people like me). Therefore, we are not even going to bother trying to swap them on the FIFA site and will just bring them to Salvador and give them to locals.

Visa Update:  Uh, there isn't really one. Rachid has all our documentation, including a few more email verifications, and he has assured me we are good to go, but I have yet to get any sort or verbal, virtual or hard confirmation.  I am hoping today.

New Addiction: Panini 2014 World Cup Online Sticker Album.  If you sign up for this through the FIFA site you "get" to "open" three packs of five "stickers" each day and "put" them into your virtual album.  There are eleven players (has already created a lot of debate) and a team "sticker" for each of the 32 teams, a special fan "sticker" for each, as well as ones for logos, mascot and even the Brazuca ball.  When you get duplicates, you can swap them with others for ones that you "need".  I got a "free" extra USA fan "sticker" when I made my first swap (an extra Mexico Hector Herrera for USA Geoff Cameron).  Every morning is like Christmas, or at least Easter, as you get to "rip open" your new packs and "place" them in your album. I guess you can also get "free" packs from certain Coca Cola products but I have not seen any participating items yet.

Tickets, TAM, and Travel Travails in prepping for the World Cup 2014 in Brasil–a chronicle of clicking, surfing and waiting

I woke up even earlier than normal, just before 5:00 A.M. on November 11 and groggily realized it was the second phase, first come first serve day for World Cup tickets (we had actually missed the first window).  I logged on to fifa.com while the coffee brewed.  I clicked around, trying to figure out the set-up and layout of the website.  Since we had tentatively decided on almost a week in Salvador and another in Recife, I wanted to grab tickets in those cities first.  As I maneuvered through the website, though some games were already sold out of available tickets, I got two of the projected games on our tentative itinerary, an early game in Salvador and a later one in Recife into our “cart”.  It was then that I noticed a clock ticking as you only had fifteen minutes to make a transaction and I was down to less than five!  I clicked to checkout and one of the first things they needed was passport numbers. Crap!  I scrambled upstairs in the dark, trying not to wake my dogs or Amy.  I softly bounded down the stairs and got the numbers input along with my credit card info and BOOM!  We were off to Brasil!

            I went upstairs and gently shook Amy to give her the news, plus we had to decide if I should grab another game that was still available in Salvador, around the time we were planning to go to Recife.  We agreed to just get it.  We now had tickets to three games and the trip was officially a go!

A few weeks later, the Saturday morning a week before the draw came out, Amy starting looking at flights and hotels.  At first we were a bit dismayed as it appeared prices were even more expensive than we had first anticipated.  She played around with flight possibilities all day on numerous sites and airlines.  She was eventually able to reserve our round trip to Rio de Janiero, through Houston, on United Airlines, getting most of one ticket on miles (only having to transfer and buy a few thousand miles).  We would wait to schedule inter-Brazil flights on domestic carrier TAM until we knew draw and finalized the itinerary.  When she finally clicked on the confirm payment a few days later, we were really going to Brasil!

That next Friday, December 7, the full World Cup draw was announced.  I was checking twitter constantly all day at school to figure out what games we had gotten.   When the draw was complete I logged on and closely checked our three games.  When I realized we got Italy-Costa Rica I had to double-check it and cover my mouth to keep from yelling out in the library.  When I saw that we got Portugal-Germany I actually did “whoop!”and had to triple-check it.  The third game was Bosnia-Iran, not quite as attractive of a game, but I had always said any World Cup game would be awesome.  I scoured the draw the rest of the afternoon, focusing on Mexico, USA and any other Spanish-speaking countries.  We quickly realized that Recife would be hosting both the key Mexico-Croatia game, as well as USA-Germany, and we shifted our itinerary, to arrive there a little earlier and stay longer.  In order to go to Recife in time for the last Mexico matchup meant we would be trying to sell (or just eat) the Bosnia-Iran game in Salvador.  No worries!  We decided to end in Rio and try to attend the round of 16 knockout game there. If we could see Mexico, USA and a knockout round game at Estadio Marakana, the trip would absolutely perfect!

The next ticket window was a random draw beginning on December 8 and going through January 30.  We applied for the Mexico-Croatia, USA-Germany and the knockout game in Rio on June 28.  I logged in the first day, and we had to seemingly wait forever to find out if we actually got anything.  A couple of weeks later, I saw a message on Twitter that if we put in for tickets, we should check our credit card, and indeed there was a charge and I knew we had one more game in hand, we just didn’t know which one.  Finally, when I logged into my FIFA account on the morning of February 26, in order to get some info for this blog, I saw that we indeed were awarded the Mexico-Croatia tickets! I almost ran upstairs to wake up Amy.  This leaves just trying to acquire tickets to the June 26 Recife USA-Germany and the round of 16 knockout game in Rio on June 28. 

Once we knew the draw, we set our full travel itinerary, made a calendar and started looking at hotels.  We would fly out of DIA to Houston, overnight to Rio, then onto Salvador.  After four nights there and the Germany-Portugal matchup, it would be on to eight days Recife and hopefully three games (Italy-Costa Rica, Mexico-Croatia, and please please USA-Germany).  We looked at a lot of options here, including apartment rentals since we would be there for so long.  There were a few that seemed great but included strange extra things like daily electricity charges, or a two-page contract in Portuguese, and we just never felt confident with any of it.  We finally settled on a FIFA-recommended hotel near in the Boa Viagem area.  For Rio de Janeiro, we got another FIFA hotel near Copacabana Beach. The last part was scheduling the flights within Brasil on local carrier TAM.  We have one 6:20 AM flight that will suck.  There have also been many problems with airports, flight patterns and schedules so we are hoping there are no major problems with our flights.  I have heard that others have had flight times changed already, but we have not received any notifications.

For the next to last round of tickets, I was trying to clarify if we were even able to apply for the same games again, so when I tried to log on just before 5:00 AM on March 12, I wasn’t even sure if we could apply.  Since there was such demand it took a few minutes to actually get logged in.  I quickly checked game the June 26 USA-Germ, and it appeared there was no problem-they were only counting confirmed games on your record we were indeed “eligible”-however, only wheelchair accessible tickets were left; when I clicked to the knockout game there was nothing available there either. I was a dismayed and mildly depressed that it all ended up a moot point anyway.  Oh well. 

A little later I was just skimming the whole list of games again to see what was available in general, I noticed that USA-Germany appeared to be the only non-Brazil team or Rio or Sao Paolo based game that was sold out-damn!??!?  But then I also noticed that there were suddenly “low availability" on the Rio knockout game-OMG!  I frantically clicked and it allowed me to do it (I guess some had been in queue and run out of time) so BAM!  We are also going to fabled Estadio Maracana!

The “Last Minute Sales Phase” starts April 15 and goes through the games themselves.  This is where FIFA will be facilitating, and trying to control, the re-sale of any returned tickets, and not let scalping get out of hand.  This will go on throughout the tournament and people can try to re-sell their tickets until up to three days before the match.  I will log on early and continually check in to see if I can somehow procure those elusive USA-Germany tickets, and try to unload my Bosnia-Iran. However, I have already seen tickets being offered on Twitter and some ticket sites.  My friends who went to South Africa said there were similar pre-event procedures, but once people had tickets in hand, it was a free-for-all selling tickets at the airport and on the streets. If the Bosnia tickets have not sold I will just take them and unload them in Salvador.  And once I am in Salvador, and especially in Recife, I will always have some reales* in my shoe just in case I encounter anyone selling a USA-Germ ducat or two.

Our last logistical step was to get our Brazilian Visa.  This had actually been a pain in the ass when Bobby had to apply, even going through a Courier.  I figured that Brazil would make it easier for people, especially UnitedStatesians* and at first, it appeared they did with a special World Cup Visa that is cheaper and supposedly easy to get as long as you have proof of travel and tickets.  They did, however, make it a pain in the ass to put together the documentation and get approved.  We had to send it to a company (Travisa) in Houston who takes care of it and the processing actually costs more ($70) than the actual Visa ($25).  It was also recommended that we register with the US Embassy in Brazil, which also cost.  Then, we forgot to sign our new passports, nor did we notarize the copies of our Driver’s licenses (a requirement at the Houston site only).  When we finally had all that taken care of (after paying an extra round of FedExing), it turns out I hadn’t printed out the page correctly that documented our World Cup ticket purchase so that had to be re-done and mailed in. After that was finally taken care of and we were assured everything was in order, we were put into a long queue for finalization; in fact, Rachid, our extremely patient and helpful Travisa agent, said it was taking so long that he was advising new clients to just pay more for the regular Tourist Visa.  But now, we should truly be ready to go!  All we need now are those USA- Germany tickets for a perfect itinerary! We are Copa Bound!

Late Reaction to Late Mexico-USA Tie

Well, I’ve finally recovered from the late kickoff and lack of sleep, so I decided to throw in my dos pesos about last Wednesday’s game between my two favorite teams, and how its results affect some players moving forward in their World Cup hopes.  I personally predicted and hoped for a 2-2 tie, so that is good, but it certainly was not in the way I surmised in the tale of two halves.  The expected outcome was that the bueno of one team gave me great worry for the other, but both teams probably clarified some players’ tickets for the flight to Brasil, while others solidified their place on the couch watching this summer with stubborn Carlos Vela and retired Steve Cherundolo.

First of all, Mexican capitán Rafa Marquez looked great, the best overall form he has had since returning to the National Team, with a fabulous goal, another near, and most importantly, no OMG moments on defense really (those went to others).  However, he and others exposed how weak his opposite Omar Gonzalez is for the US defense (one good, one bad for me); unfortunately, due to thin depth, Gonzo likely makes the trip south by default, hopefully to forever remain in warm-ups. 

Two Mexican strikers likely in competition with each other for an invite both performed well, Raul Jimenez working well around the field in his second half of play and Alan Pulido (beaten out by Jimenez for the last spot on the Gold Medal Olympic team) taking advantage for his fourth goal in three games for La Selección Naciónal, both also helping to seal Gonzalez’ fate. 

Marco Fabian did not look great as a striker in this formation, but was much more effective as an attacking mid in the second, clogging that position even further, especially as Luis Montes had a solid game as well. While Carlos “Gullit” Peña did not look his best by any means, he is still considered a shoe-in for the team and a likely starter for his full resume.   Likewise, Isaac Brizuela was not spectacular, but will still likely make the final cut, though I don’t see him starting in this crowded group.

Miguel Layun was strong on the outside, even if not back to his 100% top speed, making numerous beautiful crosses as usual, and displaying a powerful shot from the outside, without ever really getting compromised defensively.  He got around US defender Tony Beltran quite easily (good for one, bad for one).  Rogelio Chavez’ tryout on the other side did not go very well, while Paul Aguilar took advantage, looking way better in all aspects of the game, subbing at halftime and setting up a goal.  Miguel Ponce has been playing well at Toluca and got a good shot in within his limited minutes and could be a viable backup at the wingbacks, along with Andres Guardado (who has been playing a little lately in Germany).

For los estadiounidenses, Michael Bradley was magnificent in the first half, leading a fluid attack for the red, white, and whatever the top color of their uniform is called, while also netting a nice score and almost marking a second.  Chris Wondolowski continues to make things happen, getting the start over out of shape Landon Donovan, and scored yet another goal, making it very hard to keep Wondo home for the summer.

I hate to say it (I hope Phytopia doesn’t read this) but even though I hate Kyle Beckerman and his nasty dreads, he played relatively well (outside of his part in the first goal but mostly Gonzalez IMO), looked better than Maurice Edu, and I am just not sure they have a ton of other options for that holding midfielder spot on the bench behind Jermaine Jones and Bradley, so he is slated to be very hot in the humid, tropical weather unless he shaves that head.

In spite of Gonzalez, at least Matt Besler inside, and Michael Parkhurst on the outside, were solid on the left side of the defense, the former definitely a starter in the Brasil and the latter in the running for his regular right side.  Clarence Goodson is never flashy but always stable, and was again as a sub; I can’t see him missing the trip and more and more it appears he might end up starting. Graham Zusi was fairly effective even having to track back a lot to help Beltran.

However, many other known Americans were very blah, namely Clint Dempsey, who needs to turn it on for the team to have any success the tournament (and he did break out this weekend for a hat trick against rival Portland).  Brad Davis was way too quiet. Donovan was out of shape and didn’t do much from the bench.  Eddie Johnson seemed to be pressing at times although he was just a nose or maybe a toe offsides on an almost goal.  Obviously, Dempsey and Donovan make the squad, but others who did not perform well could find themselves on the outside looking in at guys like Aron Johanssen and Mix Diskeruud.)

The overall offensive success of the USA does not bode well for any of the central defenders who play in Mexico who are not wearing the captain’s band (one good and one bad again).  Masa Rodriguez continues to live down to expectations and, like Gonzalez up north, will probably have to serve as a default member of the Brasil roster.  Same story for Topo Valenzuela, who was yet again mediocre at best, with some scary moments, but probably still ends up as the 5^th central defender on the squad.  That all of course bodes well for Iberian players Hector Moreno at Espanyol and Diego Reyes at Porto (finally getting consistent playing time) who will almost assuredly flank Marquez barring circumstance. 

Likewise, Jesus Zavala has been put on standby, while teammate Juan Carlos Medina likely solidified his hold on the holding midfielder position by effectively shutting down Michael Bradley in the second half (more one good, one bad), after Zavala chased him around aimlessly in the first half.  

Neither team was at full strength without European players, with both getting to see a lot of players (friendly six subs), and in the process, I think, answered some of the important roster questions they have been pondering.  Mexico has to feel a little better about the result though, especially that as more of Herrera’s “regulars” came on, his team looked better, stronger and more in control.  The US can take pride in a fantastic start, the fact that they were inches from the winning goal, and did not have a few probable starters waiting on the bench to come in later. 

The most intriguing question mark for the Stars and Stripes is youngster Julian Green, who certainly is fast, but looked completely out of sorts, especially going back on defense.  Granted, he joined the team at the last second, was over-hyped by fans and media, and basically came in cold with little, if any practice with the team, so he just did not yet look ready for primetime. Klinnsman was smart to only play him thirty minutes, and not the ninety many fans wanted.  However, Green was likely made some promises in his allegiance flip, and is considered a key part of the future of this team.  He got a taste, coaches got a look, and they will do everything in their power in the interim to prepare him to be the 23^rd name to make that roster so he can get a glimpse of the Cup up close, even if he never makes it on the field.

The biggest pregunta across the border is about trying to figure out where arguably their most talented player, Giovanni Dos Santos, fits into their system and lineup.  While Chicharito Hernandez has been finally getting some playing time at ManU and notched a goal over the weekend, the only question for him is: Starter or super-sub?  With Gio however, it is a much more complicated dilemma, as he is not really a true striker and needs some space to work that doesn’t really exist in this formation.  On top of that, he is out a month or so with a nagging hamstring, not an injury you want heading into the World Cup.  I still think his best spot might be as one of the attacking mids, but he has made it clear that he does not prefer that, and furthermore, that is by far the deepest area on the team with the aforementioned Peña, Montes, Brizuela, Fabian, plus Hector Herrera, who is again playing more at Porto, and whose versatility and ability to play holding mid almost assures him of a spot on the final roster (especially in light of Zavala’s performance).

Everyone now has until mid-May to narrow down their squad to their provisional 30 for training camp, before they pare down to the final Brasil World Cup veinte-tres on June 2.  However, each side does still have some important decisions to make, both on their bench and even in their starting lineups.  I figure both Herrera and Klinnsman probably know at least seven, and maybe as many as eight or even nine of their projected starters, but each has to figure out a couple of key areas, specifically in the midfield, as well as whom best fills out their depth in case of injury or other problems.

El Tri vs. USA

We are not the average soccer fan couple, especially as we are both Caucasian with no Latino background whatsoever.  Whereas most supporters fall heavily on one side of this rivalry or the other, and often show disdain and hate for the opposing side, we more or less equally support both countries in international soccer, and if anything, with a lean to the south.  The Mexicans simply have more talent, flair, and passion than the “Americanos” (see previous post), they (usually) play a much more exciting style of fútbol, and are frankly just more enjoyable to watch (although 2013 tested the Mexican faithful more than ever before).  I have one cheap USA jersey in my closet, but between us we have well over a dozen items (jerseys, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats) sporting the Mexican tri color motif.  We actually just ordered six new items from FIFA-four are Mexico, while two are USA (we thought we should have something from our own country and if we get tickets to the Germany game...). I certainly follow El Tri much more closely on the internet and twitter than the USMNT, and we both are far more familiar with the Mexicanos.

 We have always wanted to attend a Mexico-USA match and we seriously contemplated going to this week’s tilt in Phoenix, the last for both teams until three warm-up games in May and June, just before heading down to Brasil.  Amy even lobbied her boss in Arizona to schedule a meeting so she would have to fly down, have a paid hotel and we would only have to get my flight and the tickets, but alas, it was not to be.  Some day we will catch this CONCACAF Clasico live and in person, which will be an interesting sight to behold.  I am curious how a mixed crowd would take us, two gringos, one dressed in red, white and blue, the other in red, white and green, (or maybe we could cut and sew two jerseys together!) for when it comes down to it, I will still root U-S-A when these two teams play each other; Amy, on the other hand, outright cheers on La Selección Mexicana whenever the rivalry is renewed, and she received a roaring approval from the crowd our section at Mexico-Martinique at Sports Authority field.  I will personally wear both teams’ colors to school this week, sporting that new red one from Mexico (I hated it at first, and usually hate red in general, but in person I fell in love) on game day.

We will watch this game on TV (if we can stay up for the 9:15PM Mtn kickoff ), cheering both sides, switching between the English and Spanish telecasts, and, since there are no consequences in this “friendly”, I will be not-so-secretly hoping for a tie, maybe 2-2.  A game like this is a little nerve-wracking, like watching an intrasquad scrimmage of your favorite team in any sport--if one side does something well, it likely means something went wrong for the other.  There will only be LigaMX and MLS players in this game as the Euros will not make this trip. And both Klinnsman and Herrera know their general squad, even if they are not solid yet on the exact starting XI, or the definite final 23 that make the trip to Brasil. They will name 30 players in May, hold their camps and play one warm-up game before releasing their 23-man travel roster on June 2.

However, there are a few players on each side that are hoping to make an impression in this game, most notably Marco Fabian for Mexico, who has had an outstanding Liga season, but has remained on the fringe recently for El Tri and is up against a crowded offensive front.   Both young Mexican strikers, Alan Pulido and Raul Jimenez are expected to get serious playing time as they compete with each other (and Fabian) for one of the last coveted spots.  On the other side of the pitch, 18-year-old Julian Green gets his first US cap, after switching from Germany to the United States, and is expected to challenge for playing time up front.  Both sides have some final questions with at least one midfield spot as well.  Although both defenses are suspect, there are not a ton of viable options for either.   

A couple of jabs leading up to this rivalry game: First, LigaMX squad Puebla, trying to fend off relegation, refused to release USMNT players DeMarcus Beasley (who is likely to play in his 4^th World Cup no matter what) and Michael Orozco-Fiscal, who really needed this game to make a plea for the last spot on the Brasil roster; in case you were wondering, no, Puebla did not have any players called up to the Mexican side, and all other players across Mexico were given their release.  Klinnsman was not pleased with the move and made it clear.  He followed up the next day by saying the Mexicans should have never fired Chepo de la Torre.  No matter what, this game always brings some fireworks on and off the pitch.

The ultimate dream would be to go see this rivalry in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in which case we would most assuredly dress in all green and I’d openly and loudly speak Spanish!  Ah, one day.  For now, we will be content to watch this round on the late night big screen, dreaming of acai berries and el jogo bonito.

El Tri and the game that kickstarted our adventure

This piece was actually written last summer during my time in the Colorado Writer's Project, shortly after the Gold Cup game in Denver between Mexico and Martinique.  [FYI-the "language" in it is authentic.]  While Amy and I had talked about going to the World Cup and knew we would need to start planning soon, attending this game solidified in our minds that we were going to follow through with it.

Los fanaticos dEl tri

            It was as if I had been transported to an entirely new place. The volume of the crowd buzz was steadily growing; the seats were rapidly filling with green bodies, wide-brimmed sombreros and a seemingly endless stream of Chicharitos. My adrenaline spiked back to where it was upon entrance. This is what it was supposed to be!

Only moments before, the first game of the day had ended in a meaningless, anticlimactic 0-0 draw. During that first match I had been stunned that I could actually make out the various calls and cheers from individual Canadian and Panamanian fans, and even the spoken instructions the players were giving each other on the field.  When I had first entered the stadium, I was filled with energy, anticipating the high level Gold Cup soccer and especially its fans. But that excitement quickly waned as we approached our seats.  I became deflated, disappointed not just at how few people were in the stands such a short time before kickoff, but in the almost complete silence throughout the match.  Even a big play garnered only a heightened murmur.   The basically boring game ended without fanfare of any kind.

That was when I noticed the change.  It was as if I was actually in Mexico.

My section was suddenly filled with elated faces and voices. I had to speak up for my out of place English to be heard by my friends and family. And it was as if everyone was indeed friends and family there, all in support of El Tri.

            The crowd erupted when the Mexican National Team took the field alongside underdog Martinique.  It seemed like the whole state burst into song with the Mexican National Anthem.  As Martinique put the ball into play the entire stadium exploded into a cacophony of cheers.   Now, instead of individual voices blaring out over the quiet now and then, there was a constant hum that crescendoed with every challenged 50/50 ball or downfield Mexican pass. Any call in favor of the opponent (no matter how correctly warranted) was met with a fervor of boos, hisses, whistles and a few “Chingate”s. Even on the opposing goal kicks the entire crowd would wave their arms in the air cheering, louder and louder (similar to an American football kickoff), until it climaxed on the goalkeeper’s contact with the ball with a deafening “Puuuuuuuu-tOOOOOOOO!!!!”  This is what I expected, wanted, craved, total passion. With a shot on the poor Islander goalie the roar of 25,000, the stadium only a third full, was so deafening I doubted it could be any louder.

            That was until Marco Fabian broke the ice with a looping offbalance rebound that bounced into the back of the net.  OH   MY   GOD!!! Total and utter elation.  The entire stadium shook like thunder with everyone jumping up and down screaming, even my usually reserved wife and her sister.  It felt like being on the dance floor of a gigantic club at midnight on New Year’s Eve, everyone dancing and celebrating to the fullest of their ability.  Most tried to imitate Andres Castor’s infamous “Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooolllllllllllll!!!!!!” for as long as they could before taking another breath.  Yes, this was exactly what I had sought.

            When Martinique earned a penalty kick to gain the tie minutes later, I feared for the life of the referee.  Even mothers and children were screaming things that would make a Marine drill sergeant blush as I learned some new Spanish.  The stunned crowd then grew ominously quiet.

Quickly, though, a rocket from way outside by Luis Montes gave the adopted home team the lead back, and the stadium again exploded in fiesta “MEH-HEE-CO! MEH-HEE-CO!”  The jubilation and excitement maintained throughout halftime.

 The roar grew yet again as the second half kicked off.  The match remained 2-1 and the crowd visibly and audibly stressed throughout the rest of the half.  With each successive play or change of possession, the crowd “OOOOOHHH!”ed and “AAAAAAAAH”ed in accordance. The tension mounted.  The collective sigh of relief exhaled with a Martinique miss created a stiff breeze.  While a narrowly missed a shot by Mexico brought a ridiculous, “AAAAAAAAAWWW” as if 25,000 people had had their own lifeblood drawn out of them.

I was hot, thirsty, hungry and had to pee, but there was no way I was missing even one second of action.  We were all literally on the edge of our seats, desperately begging for another goal to seal it.  When it finally came, Miguel to Miguel, a beautiful cross by the young speedster Layun and finished strong by the substitute striker Ponce, the post-game celebration had begun.  An electrical hum buzzed the air, everyone singing, whooping and Ole-ing, as we exited the stadium in a rhythmic Conga crowd, the sensation lasting all the way home.

            Even though this was only Mexico’s “B” squad in a mid-level tournament, we all felt like we had personally won the World Cup. I vowed to never miss another Mexico game played in Colorado.