CARSON, Calif. -- Athletes say it's an honor to represent one's country in the athletic arena. But throw the U.S.-Mexico rivalry into the mix, and it's much more than an honor. It's a privilege.
Galaxy head coach/general manager Bruce Arena, assistant coach Cobi Jones, defender Tony Sanneh and midfielder Eddie Lewis are veterans of the border war, which resumes Wednesday in a World Cup qualifier in Columbus, and have had the bumps and bruises to show for it.
Jones, in particular, seemed to be a popular target of the Mexican team -- who can forget him being on a receiving end of a head butt from Mexico's Rafael Marquez in the 88th minute of a round-of-16 showdown in the 2002 World Cup in Jeonju, South Korea?
Marquez was ejected and the Mexicans lost 2-0.
"When they know they've pretty much lost the game and have given up, they resort to certain tactics," said Jones, who predicted the U.S. would win 2-1 this week. "As far as I'm concerned, on the biggest stage in the soccer world to come up with one of the best matchups there is and to come out on top 2-0 ... it's a great experience.
"These are the games you live for as a soccer player. No holds barred."
The USA is 4-0-3 all-time in Columbus, including a 2-0 victory on Feb. 28, 2001, when temperatures dropped to a frigid 29 degrees, and are 8-0-2 at home vs. Mexico since 2000. That includes the most recent meeting, a 2-2 tie last Feb. 2 in Houston's Reliant Stadium.
Arena, the former U.S. national team coach, remembered the days when the USA had ulterior motives regarding the game.
"I think at one time U.S. Soccer used the rivalry as a means of gate receipts and revenue, as opposed to a competition that means something," Arena said. "They often filled the L.A. Coliseum with 90,000 people not thinking about the importance of competing and winning.
"We turned the corner on that over the last 10 years. When we play Mexico, we play to win. We don't play to take care of the budget for the next few years."
Lewis, who set up Landon Donovan for the final U.S. goal against Mexico in South Korea, said there used to be even more animosity between the countries, although opposing players still are not on particularly friendly terms.
"I want to say now the competition is probably greater between the two, but there's also a greater level of respect," he said. "In so many ways, both teams are desperate to beat each other, but at the same time, I don't think any American would ever underestimate the ability of the Mexican players. And I think if you ask the Mexican players, they'd say the same thing about us.
"In a lot of ways, the rivalry has grown but at the same time the level of respect has grown as well. It continues to get bigger and bigger."
Sanneh went so far as to say the U.S. holds the upper hand in the competition.
"I think we're on top now," he said. "They were a top 10 team for many, many years. It's special to have somebody that you have to get up on your toes and match up with in the biggest games."
Arena said he doesn't get caught up in the hoopla surrounding these meetings -- Wednesday's game sold out in 90 minutes -- but that's not to say his victories over Mexico weren't any less special.
"I'm not as engrossed in the rivalry as others are," he said. "Because I've never thought it was not possible to beat Mexico or to be superior to Mexico. I wasn't dancing in the night over the fact we beat Mexico.
"I'm not as crazy about our success in the rivalry as some others are. However, I'd be foolish not to admit it's been significant in recent times, and it's still a great rivalry. I'm sure Wednesday will be another great game between these two countries."
It also will be a game Sanneh expects the U.S. to win 3-1. And you can be sure the USA will enjoy the victory, he said.
"When you beat Mexico," he said, "you're smiling for a month."
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