The Road To Brazil 2014 via Wellington feat. Mexico

I'm an American living in Wellington, really looking forward to seeing Mexico here.

I generally root for CONCACAF teams in all circumstances where they aren't playing the US, but i'll definitely be pulling for the All Whites in this one.

But, while i agree that Mexico is ripe for the picking, i just don't like the idea of NZ going into Azteca.

Sure, there have been some 0-0 draws there this round of qualifying, but there is a bit of a difference (to put it mildly) between the battle-hardened CONCACAF squads who have went in there and gotten a result and this current NZ side.

Though, of course, anything can happen on the day...

Win or Lose against Mexico, I'm still super excited. Just to be apart of a packed Westpac stadium again will be a great experience. Hopefully the away leg is close so it's game on back in Wellington! 

I hate to be the guy that brings this up. But the amount of corruption in South America is just rediculous. When there is BIG money involved, you can be stepping into dodgey territory. This game has a lot of money riding on it. Not just in terms of the prize money but everything else that goes with it for the country of Mexico. TV revenue, Advertisement, Shirt sales, etc etc etc. Let's just hope that it stays away from this game.

I'm feeling more confident about this now I've had a think about it. The way RH sets up the AWs, we're almost more likely to beat a team that's better than us than one that's worse because it's all about being really defensive and trying to snatch a goal off a setpiece. We drew with an Italy side that on paper looks way better than this Mexico squad (yeah I know, no Nelsen now blah blah blah). Being firm favourites can do funny things to teams too - just look at the OFCNC

Yank here following along with your lively and quite humorous commentary.  A few things I would like to point out to you all in case you were not aware or are interested.  Mexico is currently struggling mightily, and more so than at any time in recent history.  It is possible that you guys can go into Azteca and steal a point, though to be brutally honest, I sincerely doubt that.  Mexico has only lost two competitive matches at Azteca in their history (opened May 29, 1966).  On the bright side, the second loss came in the final round of qualifying against Honduras a little over a month ago.  Mexicans also tend to get down on their side quickly and are even known to turn on them.  They will turn back once Mexico retakes the lead.  Mexico fans also have a history of not showing up for any game other than against the United States and Costa Rica, so there is a chance, though I think it remote, that the All Whites, and fans that make the trip, will not have to deal with 105,000+ angry Mexicans.  That being said, even if only 70,000 or 80,000 show up, you guys are still in for a mighty uphill struggle.

It is a benefit that Chicarito will not be playing the first leg, though he by no means should be the most feared Mexican player on the squad.  Chicarito is a poacher, and based on your guys assumption that you will be parking the bus, he would figure to be quite ineffective anyways. It also helps that Vela has continued to reject El Tri's overtures to come back into the fold.  Perhaps that might change for the play-offs, though it appears as though it is personal between he and the federation, so probably unlikely.  I am not sure is Rafa Marquez is out on card accumulation, but if not, that man is the lowest piece of shit scum there is on planet earth.  He is in my opinion one of the dirtiest players to ever play the game.  He is also a hothead, and has a history of drawing untimely and disastrous red cards for El Tri.  But he could break a leg or two before you hit that point.

As for the fans.  Angry is a very appropriate adjective for them.  To be fair, my perspective is coming from the point of view of an arch-rival, and while they are equally as vitriolic toward other Concacaf teams, they are also so to other teams and their fans.  They will throw bags filled with urine at you and your players, batteries, water bottles, beer, user laser pointers unapologetic-ally and whatever else they can get their hands on.  They will attempt to scale the barbed wire topped fence that separates the Mexican seating from the away support section.  Federalis will be present to prevent violence, but you will still get bombarded by missiles, even if you lose.  For those that are interested in making the trip, I would recommend watching the following video to see how the American Outlaws supporters group arranges their travel and protection (minute three is where most of it starts, though the whole video is good).  Gringos at Azteca.

It is nice to emphatically clinch top spot in the qualifying campaign, but given how much I despise El Tri, I would have been perfectly ok with rolling over to Panama and watching the whole country of Mexico implode.  I am hopeful I still can.  I have a new adopted team, at least for two games.  Vamos los All Whites!

Unfortunately, I think you are on to something there.  Most Concacaf teams are used to playing in El Salvador and Nicaragua where the atmosphere makes the delirious Mexican fans look peaceful by comparison.  I remember reading a quote from Santino Quaranta from back in the '06 qualifying campaign where they were a bit nervous for their safety and the military surrounded the field with automatic rifles.  They are truly battle hardened by the time they arrive at altitude to Azteca.

Wasn't sure if battle-hardened was the right way to put it, but given the amount of security teams bring with them to most qualifiers in the region, i figured it was appropriate. :)

Rory to head a goal, and Mexico disintegrate

Keep it 0-0 into the second half, or better yet, pinch an early goal for yourselves and they will be screaming at their own team.

rory is a god send.

I hope our media does a good job of telling the NZ Public, on how hard it will be to beat Mexico in the first leg

and what the players and supporters will be going through at the azteca stadium. Its going to be hell, no NZ

sports team wouldve gone through this.

Also has the all whites ever WON a game against a TOP team in a game that is important. I dont count Bahrain, China

or Australia as a top team. Say the biggest miracle happened and we won in Mexico, surly that has to be the Halberg to

the all whites and not to our boat racing team, or horse riding team or rowers or rugby union team.

I would rather we just accepted the bribe from FIFA and Mexico and start afresh for 2018.

Like most my preference was for Panama to be our play-off opponent. Mexico is a scary prospect - great history of WC qualification and some decent results, FIFA ranking, some amazing players and the Azteca BUT, on current form, Panama may actually be our best bet.

Neither would have been easy but nor should it be to qualify for the WC. I think we're a shot of qualifying if we can get out of the Azteca with our WC hopes still having a pulse. Although the odds are against us what a night could be instore at Westpac.

We have the advantage of playing at home second - All Whites to nick it in a penalty shoot-out.

Like the AWs will put them under pressure first up away from home..plan wil be to sit back and give them 45mins to gain their confidence and pass all around at us.

well it's one more month to go and I am amped

http://www.cfandeportes.com/futbol/seleccion/item/62901-vucetich-conf%C3%ADa-en-vencer-a-nueva-zelanda

Mexico manager says "that they will beat NZ no problem, easy and swift and unscathered and the good gods are on their side"  he is trying to regain confidence to the team, by bullying  NZ

Well, the waiting is over

Lick your lips, we are in for some thrilling excitement.

Panama, Mexico, meh, I dont see much between them at present. History is nothing, repeat nothing,  we know our challenge, are we up for it ??

If we lose the first leg 4 nil, everyone will say it is to be expected, blah blah, and half a stadium will watch us do our best at the cake tin, after all, we are kiwis and we live in hope and dont ever give up

But say we park the bus, and hold them to a 1 goal margin, well, forget the Americas cup, the return leg will be the event of the year, 30 thousand living every kick, pass, tackle, foul, corner, at the Ring of Fire, and the rest of NZ backing them in the pubs, the clubs,  the lounges of the ordinary bloke as well, (they may even have it on the screens on the Cloud for us Aucklanders.)

The fat lady hasnt even sung yet, she is just getting the stage ready, take your seats, or stand if you cant sit still, it is on

I say, bring it on, I'm ready

After reading the NZ Herald article about how Mexico's participation in the World Cup adds up to many many millions of dollars you can't help thinking that there will be a lot of very very unhappy people if they don't qualify. Some of these people will not be very nice people. Just consider the number of Mexican fans that would go to Brazil(15,000 went to SA, one of the biggest groups)....and how much that is worth.

But its nice to know that the whole world football community including FIFA, match officials etc are all clean, moral, uncorruptible people and the playoff will come down to two teams evenly battling it out in a spirit of sportsmanship.

The pressure on Mexico will be enormous. Unfortunately the gulf in quality between the two teams is enormous as well. Still as a fan it will be great to go to Wellington and see a top quality side in action. And if a couple of thousand Mexican fans come as well it will just add to the event.

Home field advantage cannot be overstated.  The US has hundreds of massive stadiums, but we play Mexico in Columbus, Ohio at a run down MLS stadium with a capacity of 22,555 because when we have traditionally drawn Mexico at home in qualifiers, it has been in the dead of winter.  Below freezing temperatures, windy and an almost 100% home fan advantage sitting right on top of them has weighed on them heavily.  Despite success at newer stadiums with larger crowds, we continue to use the La Guerra Fria (the cold war) to our mental advantage, and their mental detriment. Find and use a stadium that is the complete opposite of what they are used to.  They are not at all mentally tough.