Next Up: La Guerra Fria

It’s been called “The Cold War” by US and Mexico fans alike. Come and check out CONCACAF’s premier rivalry Feb. 11th at 4pm at McCoy’s Firehouse or Fuel in Pioneer Square.

‘La Guerra Fria’: It’s an analogy with many meanings. First, there is the obvious. There is no love lost whenever the United States and Mexico meet up for World Cup qualifying. Second there is the subtle meaning: whenever the States plays Mexico in winter it has historically happened in a cold climate to give the States a definite home field advantage. This time around US Soccer has decided to keep with tradition put the game in Columbus which should be experiencing near-freezing temperatures at game time. To add to what already seems to be an uphill struggle for Mexico (they haven’t won in Columbus in World Cup Qualifying in their last two tries (2001 and 2005), El Tri has picked up a string of injuries to star players.

Here are the proposed lineups that we will be seeing a week from Wednesday:

USA:

GOALKEEPERS: Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids)

DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Ugo Ihemelu (Colorado Rapids), Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS: Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Kansas City Wizards), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)

FORWARDS: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)

Mexico:
GOALKEEPERS: Oswaldo Sánchez (Santos) , Guillermo Ochoa (América) , José de Jesús Corona (Tecos)

DEFENDERS: Juan Carlos Valenzuela (América) , Julio César Domínguez (Cruz Azul) , Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart) , Rafael Márquez (Barcelona) , Aarón Galindo (Guadalajara) , Leobardo López (Pachuca) .

MIDFIELDERS: Fausto Pinto (Cruz Azul) , Pável Pardo (América) , Leandro Augusto (Pumas) , Luis Pérez (Monterrey) , Israel Martínez (San Luis) , Antonio Naelson (Toluca) .

FORWARDS: Alberto Medina (Guadalajara) , César Villaluz (Cruz Azul) , Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham) , Matías Vuoso (Santos) , Carlos Ochoa (Guadalajara) , Nery Castillo (Shaktar) , Guillermo Franco (Villareal) , Omar Bravo (La Coruña).

Time is getting short if you’ve been waiting on becoming an ECS member. If you have been waiting, regardless of who you support, come on out in color and for $30 we’ll adorn you in Rave Green and Sounders Blue. Let’s make this an ECS membership event for the ages.

How to choose which pub: If you’re under 21 you must go to McCoy’s for this one, the same site as for pre-games during the Sounders season. If you’re 21 or over you have your choice of Fuel or McCoy’s. It’s that simple.

Addresses:
Fuel:
164 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104

McCoy’s Firehouse:
173 S Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104

Also see: The (Opening Day) Plan