Mexico gears up as one of its best teams gets ready to kick off World Cup play against South Africa
By Dudley Althaus
Houston Chronicle
For a few delirious, nail-biting hours on Friday, Mexico's work life will grind to a halt as tens of millions gather to watch their national team battle South Africa in the World Cup's opening game.
Teachers have been told to bring televisions to school to keep students from playing hooky. Mexico City government will broadcast the game on an enormous screen in the Zocalo, the capital's yawning central plaza.
President Felipe Calderón will be joining an estimated 15,000 other Mexicans in South Africa — though officially, he is on business to strengthen ties with Africa.
Yeah, right.
At the heart of all the fervor is Mexico's young squad. Most are not even 25 years old yet, and they stand among the best the country has fielded in decades, analysts say.
The team's Spanish coach, Javier Aguirre, has World Cup experience, and many of the players have played for European teams. The Mexican players thrilled fans last week with a sensational warmup game win over Italy, considered one of the world's best teams.
“It will be crazy. We expect to be very busy,” said Alejandra Carrera, who manages a Starbucks in the courtyard of a large office and retail complex in south Mexico City. The courtyard boasts five flat-screen televisions on the surrounding walls.
Mexicans' fervor for their team, for soccer and for the World Cup is nearly impossible to exaggerate. Mexico, like much of the rest of the world, has a critical mass of fanatics. And the fever has been fanned for months.
