Speaking of USA-Mexico

Wizards T.D. Peter Vermes was a part of the 1991 squad that defeated Mexico 2-0 in the Gold Cup semifinal. Here's a story (with great picture of PV) from Jeff Carlisle at Soccernet in which Vermes talks about the match and how things had changed from just a year before.

Hillcrest Road asked PV some of his thoughts on the rivalry:

What has changed the USA-Mexico rivalry since 1991 and before?
First, we now have a full professional league in the United States that has been gong on for 12 years. Now we have established guys that are not only talented but they are also in form all year. We’re playing them with full professionals that we didn’t necessarily have back then. Now we have Major League Soccer that allows us to do that. That’s why we’ve seen such consistent success, not only against Mexico but also against other teams in the region.

Number two, they come with a whole different mindset; there’s a different level of respect that there was before. They realize that they’re in for a battle. They aren’t considered winners of the game before the game is played anymore. You have to go and fight and bite and scratch and do whatever it takes to win in rivalries like this.

What do you notice now that you are an alum of the rivalry?
I notice the way we are able to take the game to them, not like we used to play. We just tried to hang on or play to be competitive or get a draw sometimes before.

Second, now we have been able to do all the little things they used to do to us in the past. Taking extra time on free kicks, playing the ball out of bounds to waste time and run the clock out, for example. We now do that to them, and they hate it. They absolutely despise it. It’s just funny because they’re getting a taste of their own medicine.