Deep inside the Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, following Mexico’s comprehensive victory over Japan in the Olympic semifinals, a group of journalists were working while the TV beamed images from Old Trafford. Brazil had looked streaky at the start, as they cleared two South Korean attacks off the line but just as they scored their second goal through the prolific forward Leandro Damaio, the journalist lent over to his colleague and said something that could yet be prophetic.
“I have a bad feeling,” he said, “that Mexico and Brazil could be a preview of the World Cup final of 2014.”
On face value these words sound fantastical, but taking a moment to think about it, you will be forced to consider that it isn’t really as wondrous as it sounds. Brazil may not be the world beating side of the late 90s or the early noughties but in this group have a core of players, led by the outstanding Neymar, who look like they will be challenging for honours in 2014. Plus, the World Cup is at home. There never really will be a better chance.
Mexico though, represents an altogether different challenge. The North Americans have long played the game with the flair of the South Americans, but while they are always an attractive side to watch, it seems they lack the strength required to progress beyond the last 16 in international competitions. In both of the last two World Cups, the Mexicans have promised much before bowing out at that stage to Argentina.
It was exactly the character that many say they lack that they showed yesterday at Wembley against another interesting side, Japan. Professional football only came to Japan in the early 90s but already the East Asian nation are producing players of superb technical ability. Shiniji Kagawa and Shunsuke Nakamura are probably their best-known names but neither featured in this squad. Instead, it was left to other players, like the inventive forward Yuki Otsu, who plays his football for German Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.
On Tuesday, Otsu scored a stunning goal, hitting home on the half-volley from outside the box to give Japan the lead. It wasn’t one they managed to hold on to though, as the Mexicans began to show the gritty qualities they have fostered over the past few years.
First, Marco Fabian headed in a corner to give Mexico a hardly deserved equaliser. Then it was left to Oribe Peralta, first to score with a stunning swerving effort before setting up the next with a nifty back-heel. It sounds simple but till that point, Japan had not conceded a single goal the whole tournament.
You can rest assured that Mexico’s new-found grit will be tested to the full against Brazil in the final. But you sense there is a new found belief within the ranks of the Mexicans. The feeling is that with two Under-17 World Cups in the last seven years, a good performance in the U-20 World Cup last year (where they only bowed out to Brazil in the semifinals) and the Gold Cup victory that Mexico is now producing players that have the mettle required to win big international tournaments.
More importantly, the pressure will be off, completely. The Olympics have become an albatross around the neck for Brazil and despite clearly possessing a technically superior team on paper, the weight of expectations will definitely weigh on the Selecao. Don’t count out Mexico exploiting that to sneak a surprise victory. And if not, there might still be 2014.
-With The Daily Star input
