Mexico vs. Colombia: Complete Preview, Start Time and More

Mexico and Colombia are set to renew their long-standing international rivalry when they meet in Miami for a football friendly on Wednesday. El Tri are hoping to move to 2-0 in 2012 after ousting Venezuela in a lopsided match in January. Los Cafeteros, on the other hand, will be looking to give new head coach Jose Pekerman a win in his first game on the touchline.

Mexico holds the all-time series advantage at 12-9-6.

Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA

When: Wednesday, February 29th at 8:00 p.m. EST

Watch: Univision, Al Jazeera Sports +8

Player to Watch for Mexico: Javier Hernandez

El Tri will once again lean on Chicharito to lead them to victory in an international competition. The 23-year-old striker from Guadalajara has put through 23 goals in 33 caps for Mexico's senior squad and has chipped in 10 for Manchester United this season.

He'll have his eye on the back of the net as he rejoins his countrymen in Miami this week.

Player to Watch for Colombia: Radamel Falcao

Lost amidst the (much deserved) hoopla surrounding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in Spain's La Liga has been the stellar play of Radamel Falcao for Atletico Madrid. The 26-year-old Colombian striker will look to carry over his Iberian success to the Americas as he returns to Los Cafeteros, with whom he's collected 10 goals in 32 caps.

None of those 10 have come against El Tri, though, that could very well change on Wednesday. 

Key Matchup: Falcao vs. El Tri's Center Backs

Not since facing David Villa and Spain in 2010 has Mexico been confronted with a striker as skilled and dangerous as Falcao.

How El Tri boss Jose Manuel de la Torre decides to defend the Colombian talisman remains to be seen. On the one hand, he may opt for the older, wiser tandem of Rafa Marquez and Javier Rodriguez along the back line. On the other, he could very well play for the future by featuring Hugo Ayala and Hector Moreno to quell the threat of Falcao.

Which route de la Torre decides to take may well determine whether Falcao flourishes in the Sunshine State or is held under wraps entirely. 

What They're Saying

Wednesday's match will be the first of the Jose Pekerman era for Colombia, though, Mario Yepes isn't waiting to endorse his country's new manager. The captain of Los Cafeteros and centre-back for AC Milan told FIFA.com that Pekerman, the former coach of Argentina, has what it takes to turn Colombia around in time for a run at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil:

"

He did a good job with Argentina. He has the quality and the experience to do something with us. I think that, as an Argentinian, he'll be under less pressure from the media and fans.

"Things will be calmer for him in Colombia than back home. I hope he'll be able to lead us to the next World Cup and I'm really optimistic that he will.

"

Yepes went on to praise his younger teammates, whom he sees as benefiting tremendously from experience gained from playing overseas:

"

Several internationals such as Juan Camilo Zuniga and Pablo Armero are at clubs in Italy and they’ve been revelations in the league. That shows the talent we’ve got.

The immense majority of the squad plays in Europe and that’s a first for us. From what I can recall during my time as an international, I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many. Colombian players are leaving younger and younger for Europe and that allows us to have internationals already used to playing at the highest level.

"

Prediction: Mexico 2, Colombia 1

Los Cafeteros will put up a good fight, but El Tri have too much firepower (and too many top-quality internationals) to let this match, their biggest in some time, slip by.

Follow @J0shMart1n