Mexico takes on Brazil for Olympic soccer gold
| Mexico City
Mexico鈥檚 millions of soccer fans have gold on the brain.
The Mexican men鈥檚 national team gets its first-ever chance at Olympic gold when it takes on Brazil tomorrow.
Mexico already made history by making it to the Olympic soccer final for the first time following a 3-1 win over Japan on Tuesday. And Brazil 鈥� a powerhouse in the soccer world 鈥� scored its way to two Olympic finals in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 but settled for silver both times.
Mexico鈥檚 Oribe Peralta, who scored the second goal against Japan, told Mexico鈥檚 Milenio newspaper, 鈥淲e can win against anyone and Brazil is not unbeatable.鈥�
That鈥檚 true enough: Mexico has beat or tied Brazil every time the two teams have found themselves matched in a historic final, from the 1975 Pan-American Games, Gold Cups in 1996 and 2003, the Confederations Cup in 1999, and finally, in a win for Mexico over Brazil in the Sub-17 World Cup in Peru in 2005.
Mexico鈥檚 鈥�迟谤颈肠辞濒辞谤鈥� (the team is known for its trio of colors echoing the Mexican flag鈥檚 red, white, and green) had to defeat South Korea, Gabon, Switzerland, Senegal, and Japan to make it to the Olympic final. Brazil had to overcome Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand, Honduras, and South Korea.
Mexico City taxi driver Jose Sanchez Eliazalde turned up the radio as news of the upcoming game came on: One of Mexico鈥檚 star players, Giovani Dos Santos, won鈥檛 play in Saturday鈥檚 game due to an injury.
鈥淣o one is indispensable,鈥� says Mr. Sanchez Eliazalde, getting worked up at the mere mention of the gold-medal game. 鈥淲e are going to win. We鈥檝e never won anything 鈥� only disgrace. Now it鈥檚 our turn.鈥�
No matter who kicks the winning gol, a gold medal will mark a first-time Olympic soccer champion.
Brazil vs. Mexico will be played at 3 p.m. London time at Wembley stadium.
