Mexico 1 - 0 Senegal

"The game was embarassing," stated one Mexican TV pundit after the game. "Senegal were even more embarrassing."

It was a fair point after a game that lacked class on the field but was made an occasion by the 60,000+ Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago.

The only positives for Mexico are that 1) only two or three of the players that started the game have a chance of being in the starting lineup in South Africa and 2) when Andres Guardado and Cuauhtemoc Blanco (who will both start) came on Mexico improved drastically.

Oh, as well as the massive amounts of money the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) is making from playing these largely pointless friendly games in the United States with its hungry, captive market for Mexican football.

Oscar 'Rabbit' Perez (rabbit for his jumping ability and nothing else) started in goal and looked reasonable, although he didn't have very much to do and for the already experienced 'keeper the game was largely a waste of time - his manager surely learned nothing he didn't already know about the 37-year-old. Against Angola on Thursday, it will be Memo Ochoa's turn to impress.

Mexico's Alberto 'Venado' Medina scored the winner in the 60th minute against the second string Senegalese thanks to a basic goalkeeping error, which neatly sums up the quality of the night's entertainment.

Mexico forced the play and had the bulk of the chances but failed to convert them into goals, with goalscorer Medina the main culprit in the second half.

Manchester United's Javier 'Little Pea' Hernandez failed to really get a grip on the game, although he looked bright and his movement was good. As a side note though, if he goes to ground as easily as he did tonight while playing in England he'll swiftly face the wrath of many British pundits and fans alike.

What is really required for the Mexican national team is for the European-based players to integrate into the squad once domestic seasons are over and hopefully we'll see a new Tri that don't make you want to gnaw at your own torso while you are watching them.
Then, and only then, will we get a real idea of where the Mexican team is at.


Full line up: Perez, Aguilar, Valenzuela, Moreno, Aldrete, Castro, Torrado, Juarez, 'Bofo' Bautista, 'Chicharito' Hernandez, Barrera