2010 FIFA World Cup Warm-up: Mexico vs. Italia and What We Learned

Mexico played its last warm-up game before the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Thursday against the No. 5 team in the world, Italy. Mexico beat the Azzuri 2-1 in Belgium. The score would make you believe that this game was close, but in reality the youthful El Tri dominated an aging Italian team.

The Mexicans started off the scoring in the 17th minute, when Giovani Dos Santos sent a beautiful ball into the box right to Carlos Vela who one-timed-it past Gianluigi Buffon. 

In the 84th minute, Alberto Medina sealed the deal, sprinting past the Italian defense and blasting a shot into the back of the net. The Italians' only consolation would be a score by Leonardo Bonucci in the 89th minute off a corner kick.

The win over the defending World Cup champions is a great way for the Mexicans to end their strenuous series of warm-up matches before they play South Africa in the first match of the World Cup on June 11th . 

Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was criticized when he announced that El Tri would play a suicidal 13 international friendlies leading up to the World Cup. In comparison, Italy will only play three.

Soccer experts and analysts believed that playing so many warm-up games would leave the Mexicans exhausted before they even stepped foot in South Africa. We won’t find out that answer till the competition starts, but based off the last several international friendlies, it looks like Aguirre’s gamble may have paid off.

Mexico is coming into the World Cup playing arguably its best soccer in recent memory. On May 24, Mexico played England at Wembley Stadium, and despite losing 3-1, played brilliantly against the No. 8 team in the world. Two days later, Mexico played the No. 4 ranked Netherlands and once again played well but ended up falling short 2-1.

With this win over Italy, the Mexican team feels that they can compete against any team they face in the tournament. 

Mexican fans have been waiting for years for Mexico’s “Golden Generation” to finally live up to their hype. Giovani Dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Andres Guardado, and Javier Hernandez are the faces of this “Golden Generation” and will be the key to Mexico’s success in South Africa. 

Mexico is a team on the rise and will be a dangerous opponent this World Cup.

On the flip side, the Italians look like a team that is in for a rough time.

Four years ago when the Italians were entering the 2006 World Cup, experts said their team was too old to be a serious threat in the competition. The Azzuri proved their doubters wrong by winning it all. Now, with the Italians returning with basically the same team as then, the age criticism may be finally be justified.

Coach Marcello Lippi decided to remain loyal to older players like Fabio Cannavaro and Mauro Camoranesi despite their level of play having deteriorated since the 2006 World Cup. Italian fans have been screaming for Lippi to call up younger players like Giuseppe Rossi, Antonio Cassano, and Mario Balotelli who could bring some desperately needed energy to this team.

So far their cries have fallen on deaf ears. 

Lippi will have some explaining to do if Italy struggles. And if Thursday’s international friendly was any indication, it could be a quick visit to South Africa for the Azzuri.