COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mexico fans braved the cold temperatures in Columbus, Ohio, and brought mariachi to the team's hotel on the eve of El Tri's World Cup qualifier against the United States.
In between strains of classics like "El Rey" and "Mexico lindo y querido" came chants from the group of supporters. "In Columbus, El Tri is not alone," went one, as well as the now usual "Si se puede."
There is desperation from El Tri's fanbase to break the Columbus curse, and the conditions on Friday have made that possible. Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio has picked a very strong squad, with plenty of options from defense to attack; the team has had four full days of preparation in Columbus ahead of kickoff; and sports psychologist Imanol Ibarrondo has been brought in to help break the mental barrier of playing at a venue where Mexico has lost its previous four matches 2-0. The players will even wear special spandex clothing to help protect them from the cold.
"En Columbus El Tri no está solo," chant Mexico fans outside the team hotel. pic.twitter.com/7wV4ysow7e
- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) 11 de noviembre de 2016
Confidence seems to be radiating from the Mexico camp, but the team will have to get key elements of the game spot on in order to overcome a strong U.S. squad brimming with physicality, and with history on its side.
Sticking to the team's DNA
Osorio gave a strong hint on Thursday that Mexico would look to take the game to the United States, even in the cold weather and hostile atmosphere.
"It is almost impossible to talk about going out for a draw, and the risk of losing would be very great," said Osorio.
Mexico opened up and went toe-to-toe with Chile in the Copa America Centenario and ended up losing 7-0. But the United States is no Chile, and El Tri's best chance of victory is maintaining that proactive style -- shifting the ball around quickly via technical superiority and pressing the United States when it loses the ball, to provoke an open game. Crucially, Osorio said he believes he has the better attacking unit of the two teams, with Jesus "Tecatito" Corona, Giovani dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Marco Fabian and Hirving Lozano all battling for starting spots on the wings.
While the U.S. is the home side and is playing in its fortress, Osorio shares the Marcelo Bielsa philosophy of sending his team out to be the protagonist home and away. And the manager has even been playing the squad clips from games involving the Total Football era of the Dutch national team in the 1970s.
If Mexico is to once again go down in Columbus, it might as well do so while trying to maintain its identity.
Stopping the U.S. aerial threat
Osorio will have worked a lot during the week on defensive set piece drills. The Colombian coach has mentioned on a number of occasions the threat that the United States poses from direct play, and he highlighted it once again Thursday.
"The keys to the game will be to combat [the U.S.] in their aerial game -- which team can dominate the midfield, with numeric superiority or good circulation and positional play. The other [factor] is efficiency in the final third," said Osorio.
Of the eight goals Mexico has conceded down the years, stretching back to 2001 in Columbus, five have come from dead-ball situations, something Osorio is very much aware of. To cope, the Mexico manager is set to name a starting side that includes six strong players in the air, but Jurgen Klinsmann will still hope the likes of John Brooks, Jermaine Jones, Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez will be able to get the better of El Tri in the air.
Rafa Marquez finally showing up in Columbus
All indications suggest Marquez will become the first player in the history of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry to feature in four qualifying matches in MAPFRE Stadium. But Marquez has had a disastrous time there, earning a red card and two yellows in his past three games in Columbus.
Osorio is likely to field Marquez in a defensive midfield role, but it wouldn't be at all surprising to see him step back into the defensive line as a third center-back depending on how the game progresses and where his presence most benefits the team.
A lot of hope rests on Marquez's experienced shoulders, although instead of being a beacon of calm and mental toughness, he has actually let his team down in previous editions of the rivalry.
In his final appearance, Marquez will be more desperate than anyone else to turn the tide of the rivalry and end the dos a cero jibes from U.S. fans.