Mexico vs USA: Keys to a Positive Result for the United States

The United States will play Mexico in an international friendly, but earning a victory at Estadio Azteca will be nearly impossible.

However, the Americans are not doomed to walk away from the daunting stadium with their tails between their legs, and a positive result is still possible. The team will need to have a concrete game plan and execute to perfection to avoid a loss.

This will be an extremely difficult match both physically and mentally, but a victory could give the U.S. men plenty of confidence going forward.

Here are the three things the Americans must do in this match to ensure they are not beaten badly by their neighbors.

Start Strong

This is not a match where the United States can let the Mexicans establish control early.

The country's under-23 squad is coming off an astonishing victory at the Olympics, which will certainly energize the senior side. 

If the U.S. sits back and allows their opponents to possess the ball, it will only be a matter of time before a player like Chicharito Hernandez or Andres Guardado breaks through.

The Americans must break the Mexicans’ confidence and establish themselves as the aggressors in this match.

Keep the Ball on the Ground

Every time the United States sends a ball up the field, it will be tiring out its attackers.

Estadio Azteca is 1.4 miles above sea level, and this puts the Americans at a serious disadvantage. The altitude has always made fitness a problem for the U.S. squad.

By focusing on possession, the team will allow the defense to rest more often. It will also force the team to be more cautious about choosing its attacking opportunities, which will ensure the team is not exhausted when it needs to be sharp in the attacking third of the field.

The Americans must get in to a passing rhythm if it hopes to make it all the way through the match.

Live With a One-Goal Lead

The last time the Americans traveled to Azteca was three years ago. Charlie Davies scored in the ninth minute of that World Cup Qualifier, but the U.S. could not hold on to the lead and lost 2-1.

If the team is able to start fast and grab a goal just as it did three summers ago, then it must do whatever it can to protect the lead. This may be an American team with a German coach, but it should take lessons from Italian soccer and protect a 1-0 lead at all costs.

These may be conservative tactics for a friendly, but avoiding a loss at Azteca is exceedingly rare for the United States, and it would be an inspiring result.

Jurgen Klinsmann should be looking to do whatever he can in order to earn a victory—or at least a draw—in this match, and that includes packing the defense after grabbing a lead.