U.S. and Mexico national teams face off for third time this year

The U.S. will face off against Mexico at Aztec stadium on September 9th in a deadly exhibition game (nothing between these two teams is friendly). This will once again stir up fans from both sides into a heated argument on which National Team is better. After winning the Gold Cup the U.S. NT laid an egg at Copa America losing all three of their first round games. Mexico, on the other hand managed, to win third place at Copa America only behind Brazil and Argentina. The U.S. had a slightly better result in last year’s World Cup, where they lost two and tied one. Mexico lost in overtime in the round of 16 against perennial thorn-in-the-side Argentina.

So what gives, does the U.S. focus exclusively on CONCACAF and Mexico? And how can Mexico claim to be the third best team in the America’s when they are not even the best team in CONCACAF? So what National Team is better? Which fans are right?

First off, I have to acknowledge that there is a lot of pride on both sides.
We have to take things in to context. Only people in denial will minimize that the U.S. has been asserting itself over CONCACAF the last 8-10 years. There is no denying that. Until Mexico manages to beat the US in a major tournament, Tri fans will continue to be, well somewhat bitter about the recent U.S.-Mexico history.

Many U.S. fans will argue that you have to handle business at home (CONCACAF) to claim you are better; therefore the U.S. is better because they sit atop the CONCACAF kingdom.

I don't buy this whole "you have to handle business at home" argument. Why, because I've seen examples of the opposite happening all over soccer.
Just to point out one obvious example: Current World Champs, Italy, they didn't "handle business at home" at the EURO in '04. As a matter of fact they were bounced out in the first round. Italy didn't even make it out of group stage. Yet that didn't stop them from becoming World Champs in ‘06. On the other hand EURO '04 champs Greece didn't even qualify for the World Cup in '06. Essentially winning your Regional Tournament guarantees a trip to Confederations and that’s it, nothing more. Losing your Regional Tournament also doesn't mean you are a bad team; Italy proved it. I’m sorry to break this to all the U.S. NT fans, but the U.S. NT won’t win the World Cup just because they won the Gold Cup; take the U.S. NT out of a CONCACAF tournament and well you have a mediocre team. World Cup and Copa America revealed at least that much.

Truth be told, the U.S. NT has been able to capitalize on Mexico’s inability to deliver in big games. Let’s call it Mexico’s Impotence Problem.
Look the “problem” with El Tri is not necessarily the USNT. The biggest problem with El Tri is the fact that they can't win the biggest games; Mexico can't win "must-win" games regardless of the opponent. In Copa America alone, three times third place winner and 2 time finalist, but yet never a winner.

Just look at the World Cup history. Stopped at the Round of 16 for the last 4 World Cups: Bulgaria in Penalties in ‘94, Germany in ‘98(Mex was leading the game), US in ‘02, lose to Argentina in extra time in ‘06 (Mex was again leading the game).

Look at Confederations in '05: lost to Argentina in the semis on Penalties, and then lost the 3rth place game to Germany in extra time.

Here's what I find puzzling. In the last few years Mexico has proven it can beat good teams in Major tournaments outside of Mexico. Brazil in Confederations '05 and in Copa America '07, Argentina in Copa America '04. But all these wins have come in group stages. Mexico has even managed to play major European team to ties at the group stage of World Cups; Italy in '94 and '02 and Netherlands in '98. But again all these have come in group stages.

Mexico has a problem when it comes to Big game, direct-elimination matches in big tournaments, regardless of whom the opponent is; Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Columbia and now the U.S. have been able to take advantage of Mexico’s inability to deliver when it matters most; and that is the Mexican NT biggest problem.
Hugo’s winning mentality? We’ll that’s another post for another time.