Mexico takes the current champions to the woodshed

WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE TOPPLEDTHE KING!

Okay, okay, I know it was only a friendly, but it is very difficult no to get excited about Mexico's 2-1 victory over reigning the World Champs, Italy. For starters, this was Mexico's first victory, ever, against the Azurri. In ten previous attempts, the best result El Tri could muster was a measly tie. (Well, not that measley. The last two games against Italy were draws in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup and the group stage of the 1994 World Cup). This historic feat could not have come at a better time either. This being the last friendly Mexico will play before opening the 2010 festivities against South Africa, it was critical to get some confidence and some momentum. Boy did they ever. Carlos Vela opened the scoring with a nice finish of a beautiful Giovani run and pass. Sub Alberto Medina then doubled the lead beating Buffon on a 1 on 1 after a gorgeous chip from Cuahutemoc Blanco. Italy drew within one in the 89th minute when Leonardo Bonucci put in a loose ball off of a corner.

Coming off two defeats to strong opposition, England and Holland, and a beatdown of a local pub team I mean Gambia, Mexico had to prove it could play well with the big boys. Sipmly speaking, it did. El Tri dominated posession Barcelona style, out possessing Italy 64-36 percent. This wasn't an Italy B team either. It might not have been the starting XI, not after this thrashing anyways, but all of the big names for Italy played. Buffon, Pirlo, Cannavaro, DeRossi, Gilardino, Iaquinta. This was a straight up beat-down of a good team.

Mexico made Italy look old, which with all due respect, Italy is. The Aztecs ran circles around the Italians and were crisp with their ball movement. The scoreline was very deceiving. Chicharito Hernandez missed a bunny three feet in front of the net when he whiffed on a great feed by Carlos Vela. Vela was hauled down from behind by Cannavaro inside the area for a clear penalty kick, only to have the ref tell him to play on. In the closing stages of the game, sub Andres Guardado missed a 1 on 1 with the keeper. Three crystal clear opportunities to run up the score wasted. Mexico's lack of finishing is still worrisome, but the generation of so many goal scoring opportunities is uplifting.

So what did we end up learning from the match?

1. As much as it pains me, Luis "Conejo" Perez will be the starter bewteen the pipes for Mexico. Not only did he get the nod again today, he also was given the coveted number 1 jerset. Memo Ochoa was given the number 12. Perez was decent today. He wasn't tested much and the goal was not his fault, but he doesn't instill confidence. His diminutive frame and lack of youth frightens me. Head coach Javier Aguirre has proven people wrong before, let's hope he can prove me wrong this summer.
2. Mexico's three-headed monster up-top will be a sight to see. Chicharito, Vela, and Giovani Dos Santos are fast. Time and time again they were outrunning the vaunted Italian defense today. They have great field vision as well, as shown by Dos Santos' assist to Vela in the first half. They have a lot of chemistry together and share the ball. Look, I am a homer so my glasses are green colored, however, if I were South Africa, France, or Uruguay, I'd be losing sleep over this talented trio. To think they are all under 23 year old, too. Now that is scary.
3. Mexico will play a variation of the 4-3-2-1 that might look a little like this:

Chicharito

Vela------------------Dos Santos

Torrado---------Marquez--------Juarez

Salcido------Maza--------Osorio---------Aguilar

Perez

As crazy as it might seem to say, Guardado and Blanco will be coming off the bench.

4. Mexico will die by the set-piece. The only goal it gave up came off a corner in the 89th minute. This is its weakness. I know it, you know it, everybody knows it. It has to improve and quickly.