Heading Down to Azteca
The folks at OneGoalUSA continue to put out quality videos on US Soccer fans. The second installment of their series recounts the trip that a brave group made down to Estadio Azteca. Check it out:
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: along with the USA-Mexico game at Crew Stadium, this is one trip that I feel like I have to make at some point in my life. Going straight into the lions' den, surrounded by 100,000+ inebriated and hostile fans clad in the red, white, and green of El Tri, hoping to go home with an improbable result and, more importantly, my health. I feel like it would be one of the most nerve-wracking days a soccer fan could ever experience, but also one of the most unique and unforgettable. To those who have already done so, I salute you.
At this point, I have every intention of being at Azteca in 2013. We've never won there, and a lot people think we never will. But that doesn't deter me one bit. Even in such an unaccommodating environment with years of futility stacked up against us, I couldn't help but still feel that attitude so common to the American sporting landscape; that David always has a chance to slay Goliath, and that anything can happen on any given day. And while it'd be far from ideal, even witnessing yet another loss in Mexico would be an experience unlike any other I've ever had in and of itself.
The only thing that could potentially ruin my plans would be if Mexico's drug cartel issues escalate to the point that even a two day trip to the capital would be at great personal risk (beyond that involved by simply donning the Red, White, and Blue in enemy territory). Other than that, I don't think there's too much that can keep me away from following the Yanks down to the toughest match of qualification and visiting a stadium that is, all allegiances aside, one of the must-see venues of international football, in my opinion.
For the first part in this excellent series, head here.
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2 comments:
I was there and for the first time I felt like the US team had Mexico on the floor, but It was more the heart that the real basics of the game what brought us, also I saw an intimidated team after the first mexican goal.
to go along with what wahl, the sports illustrated guy, was saying there towards the end, it will be very interesting to see how the mexicans react to a loss at home to the US. they didn't handle victory like good sports, so it would be very frightening to be there as a US fan if we won. there was just a sea of green waiting on the US fans' way out, and if they were all pissed about a loss, that thin line of riot police would do little to protect the tiny group of US fans. i would love to be there though, more than anything. another thing to notice is how absolutely terrible those mexico fans are. i mean, in what other country do the home fans try to drown out the opposing team's national anthem and throw things onto the field at opposing players? this is an amazing game, have some respect for the game as fans, and have some respect for the other team. apparently, mexican fans living in the US do the same thing when we play them at home, so it's not just confined to azteca. they need to be taught a lesson
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