Ok, I am a fan of Hejduk, but come on, the man did not even play today, and he has his shirt off..? 

It was a well deserved win!  Howard was awesome.

maybe hes looking for some right guard endorsements?

in response to your "shout out" (it takes a long time to go back and forth)...they were showing a beckham special after the game here...and i dont know about everyone else, but i know MY season starts august 11 v birmingham!!! 

I think you are missing Jon and my point.  The US and Mexico do not have to eliminate each other to both qualify for the world cup.  Did you see the WC in 2006, 2002, 1998, 1994 and so on and so forth, where both US and Mexico were in the World Cup?  Top 3 teams from CONCACAF will qualify and it will take multiple acts of God to keep US and Mexico from being 2 of those 3 teams.  Our point is that, at most, only 1 CONCACAF team can get a top seed (ensuring easiest draw at the WC), and we need FIFA to think of the US as the dominant team in CONCACAF.  The more separation we get form Mexico, the better our WC seeding is and the easier our draw.  As for the upcoming Copa America matches, I wish the US could add Donovan and Beasley on the wings to the otheriwse inexperienced team  we are taking there.  I'm pumped to see Ricardo Clark and Feilhaber in central midfield together after that 2nd half against Mexico, but I just wish they were getting more help on the wings and up top with an established goal scorer.  Of course, if Feilhaber can make it rain from 20 yards out, that's fine with me.  In the end, we have to be realistic because Argentina is taking their WC team to Copa and we're taking our B team.

You, my friend, are a Mexican apologist.  A Mexican homer!  And Mexico still sucks!  You'r new nickname is "Mex." 

Mexico sucks because soccer is all that poor country cares about.  Mexico is arrogant about it.  Mexico is unsportsmanlike.  Do you endorse Mexico's longstanding refusal to exchange jerseys with the US players after a game?  Please, Mex, say you're not so unsportsmanlike. 

And here, where soccer is not even a top-4 sport, we still take care of Mexico every time they come north of the border.  Did you see the second round of the WC in 2002 when we broke Mexico's collective nationalist heart 2-0 in S. Korea.  How'd it feel, Mex?  You were probably in grade school so it might not have hurt that bad to you, Mex.  I hope that's the case, for your sake.

Mark my words, Bradley owns Sanchez.  He's 2-0 H2H.  Both got their gigs this year, so I see no merit to the Mex argument that Sanchez is "newer."  Sanchez has coached and player soccer his whole life.  He coaches Pumas in the Mexican league for years.  He has begged anyone who would listen to coach your national team, Mex.  He has promised to defeat the USA, and you defend him after Mexico melted down in the 2nd half and blew a lead in front of 50,000 screaming Mexicans?  That's priceless, Mex.  (Mex, I hate to tell you this, but FIFA doesn't think much of Sanchezz either.  Have you seen Mexico's recent dive in the world rankings?  Down from 5th in 2005 to 26th best in the world.  That's not good Mex.)

Bradley took out Mastroeni and replaced him with Clark.  Clark immediately energized the US coming out in the second half.  That momentum got the US going and took over the game.  Then, Bradley put in Twellman for Dempsey.  Again, the US fed off Twellman and out-possessed Mexico for long stretches when Mexico needed to try and get the second goal.  The only thing Bradley didn't do to Sanchez in that second half was walk out on the field and kick the ball in the net for Beasley on the breakaway to make the final 3-1.  You tell me one move Sanchez made that remotely compared to the two subs Bradley made, Mex.

And don't bring that weak-a$$ Mexican apology about how thye Mexican team isn't cohesive like the Americans.  If you knew about soccer you'd know this US team was changing lineups left and right all Gold Cup long.  Bradley and Heyduk sat out yesterday due to accumulated red cards.  4 of our starting  11 yesterday had not started in the semis against Canada.  Meanwhile, Mexico brought all the big guns out for this game -- Pardo, Guardado, Castillo, Marquez, O. Sanchez, Blanco  -- it was the best team Mexico can put on the field.  That must have hurt to watch, Mex, if you are not for the red white and blue. 

You called Feilhaber's goal lucky ... impressive ... no way any  other goalie was going to get that.  In soccer, that's called a world class finish.  Feilhaber is clutch and will start for the US in WC 2010.  If you were more familiar with him, you might not think it was so much luck as skill.  He plays for Hamburg in the Bundesliga.  How may Mexican's play in the Bundesliga currently?  0.  Gotcha there too, Mex.

This just in:  Mexico still SUX.

Wow, a little harsh here. I personally root against Mexico in every sport ever since I saw the huge crowd at the world baseball championships in Anaheim last year, waving the Mexican flag and booing the US team while we were playing Japan! We weren't even playing Mexico and that really ticked me off. I used to only root against them when we played them, now I always root against them.

You, my friend, are a Mexican apologist.  A Mexican homer!  And Mexico still sucks!  You'r new nickname is "Mex." 

Mexico sucks because soccer is all that poor country cares about.  Mexico is arrogant about it.  Mexico is unsportsmanlike.  Do you endorse Mexico's longstanding refusal to exchange jerseys with the US players after a game?  Please, Mex, say you're not so unsportsmanlike. 

And here, where soccer is not even a top-4 sport, we still take care of Mexico every time they come north of the border.  Did you see the second round of the WC in 2002 when we broke Mexico's collective nationalist heart 2-0 in S. Korea.  How'd it feel, Mex?  You were probably in grade school so it might not have hurt that bad to you, Mex.  I hope that's the case, for your sake.

Mark my words, Bradley owns Sanchez.  He's 2-0 H2H.  Both got their gigs this year, so I see no merit to the Mex argument that Sanchez is "newer."  Sanchez has coached and player soccer his whole life.  He coaches Pumas in the Mexican league for years.  He has begged anyone who would listen to coach your national team, Mex.  He has promised to defeat the USA, and you defend him after Mexico melted down in the 2nd half and blew a lead in front of 50,000 screaming Mexicans?  That's priceless, Mex.  (Mex, I hate to tell you this, but FIFA doesn't think much of Sanchezz either.  Have you seen Mexico's recent dive in the world rankings?  Down from 5th in 2005 to 26th best in the world.  That's not good Mex.)

Bradley took out Mastroeni and replaced him with Clark.  Clark immediately energized the US coming out in the second half.  That momentum got the US going and took over the game.  Then, Bradley put in Twellman for Dempsey.  Again, the US fed off Twellman and out-possessed Mexico for long stretches when Mexico needed to try and get the second goal.  The only thing Bradley didn't do to Sanchez in that second half was walk out on the field and kick the ball in the net for Beasley on the breakaway to make the final 3-1.  You tell me one move Sanchez made that remotely compared to the two subs Bradley made, Mex.

And don't bring that weak-a$$ Mexican apology about how thye Mexican team isn't cohesive like the Americans.  If you knew about soccer you'd know this US team was changing lineups left and right all Gold Cup long.  Bradley and Heyduk sat out yesterday due to accumulated red cards.  4 of our starting  11 yesterday had not started in the semis against Canada.  Meanwhile, Mexico brought all the big guns out for this game -- Pardo, Guardado, Castillo, Marquez, O. Sanchez, Blanco  -- it was the best team Mexico can put on the field.  That must have hurt to watch, Mex, if you are not for the red white and blue. 

You called Feilhaber's goal lucky ... impressive ... no way any  other goalie was going to get that.  In soccer, that's called a world class finish.  Feilhaber is clutch and will start for the US in WC 2010.  If you were more familiar with him, you might not think it was so much luck as skill.  He plays for Hamburg in the Bundesliga.  How may Mexican's play in the Bundesliga currently?  0.  Gotcha there too, Mex.

This just in:  Mexico still SUX.

vickusc - chill out.  I didn't mean "poor" in an economic sense.  I mean "poor" as in "poor sports" and the team that lost.

You say that's not the best team Mexico can field, but I don't see you mentioning anybody else who should have been on the pitch except perhaps Dos Santos.  He's awfully young still, and untested at the international level.  Sanchez could have put him on the team.  Are you saying Sanchez made a mistake by leaving him off?  (Anyone with 2 eyes can see what a mistake it was for Sanchez not to be playing Castillo more).

I'll give your boy Castillo some credit.  If you could get points in soccer for speed dribbling, he'd be all world.

Look, Mexico has its fair share of individual talent, there's no denyingt that.  I was aware of Salcido, Marquez, and Castillo.  BTW, they all played Sunday in the loss to USA, right?

I had no idea you were Mexican American, and had no intent of getting racial.  I have white friends out here on the east coast who love Mexico and who make these same kinds of apologies for Mexico when it cannot beat the USA in soccer.  I mistakenly figured you for one of them.  No more nicknames and I'm sorry if I offended you.  Not intentional.

But if you want to talk soccer and tactics with me, you don't need to use insults like "idiot" or "you must not know about soccer," or "you have never touched a ball before."  That kind of talk is just childish and infammatory.  You may be 17, but that's no excuse for not showing people respect.  When you say things like that, it just reminds me of your favorite Mexican team that refuses to exchange jerseys with USA after the match is over. (In actuality, I have played and coached soccer.)

So, while we're on the topic of soccer and tactics, let me say this:  Sanchez should never have started Borgetti.  He should have starteed Bravo.  Borgetti is great in an aerial mismarch, but Onyewu matches up well against him physically and size-wise.  Where Onyewu struggles is when he has to come out against smaller, quick forwards who have pace.  Bravo, Castillo and Guardado, those types.

But even with the Borgetti replacement, Sanchez still had 2 substitutions to use, right?  And it was 2 substitutions that Bradley made that made a world of difference for the US in the 2nd half, right?  So what did Sanchez do to help Mexico win the game in the second half?  Not much, if you ask me.

In the next FIFA World Rankings, I expect the US to be either 11 or 12.  Mexico will be lucky if they hold their no. 26 position.  With all that talent, how do you explain Mexico's recent slide in international soccer? 

vickusc - chill out.  I didn't mean "poor" in an economic sense.  I mean "poor" as in "poor sports" and the team that lost.

You say that's not the best team Mexico can field, but I don't see you mentioning anybody else who should have been on the pitch except perhaps Dos Santos.  He's awfully young still, and untested at the international level.  Sanchez could have put him on the team.  Are you saying Sanchez made a mistake by leaving him off?  (Anyone with 2 eyes can see what a mistake it was for Sanchez not to be playing Castillo more).

I'll give your boy Castillo some credit.  If you could get points in soccer for speed dribbling, he'd be all world.

Look, Mexico has its fair share of individual talent, there's no denyingt that.  I was aware of Salcido, Marquez, and Castillo.  BTW, they all played Sunday in the loss to USA, right?

I had no idea you were Mexican American, and had no intent of getting racial.  I have white friends out here on the east coast who love Mexico and who make these same kinds of apologies for Mexico when it cannot beat the USA in soccer.  I mistakenly figured you for one of them.  No more nicknames and I'm sorry if I offended you.  Not intentional.

But if you want to talk soccer and tactics with me, you don't need to use insults like "idiot" or "you must not know about soccer," or "you have never touched a ball before."  That kind of talk is just childish and infammatory.  You may be 17, but that's no excuse for not showing people respect.  When you say things like that, it just reminds me of your favorite Mexican team that refuses to exchange jerseys with USA after the match is over. (In actuality, I have played and coached soccer.)

So, while we're on the topic of soccer and tactics, let me say this:  Sanchez should never have started Borgetti.  He should have starteed Bravo.  Borgetti is great in an aerial mismarch, but Onyewu matches up well against him physically and size-wise.  Where Onyewu struggles is when he has to come out against smaller, quick forwards who have pace.  Bravo, Castillo and Guardado, those types.

But even with the Borgetti replacement, Sanchez still had 2 substitutions to use, right?  And it was 2 substitutions that Bradley made that made a world of difference for the US in the 2nd half, right?  So what did Sanchez do to help Mexico win the game in the second half?  Not much, if you ask me.

In the next FIFA World Rankings, I expect the US to be either 11 or 12.  Mexico will be lucky if they hold their no. 26 position.  With all that talent, how do you explain Mexico's recent slide in international soccer?