November 11's #USAvMEX World Cup Qualifier at MAPFRE Stadium will be the fifth consecutive time the two sides have collided in Columbus, with USA writing a new chapter in the modern-day Dos A Cero mythology every time they meet.
Over a 15-year span covering four consecutive World Cup Qualifiers with Mexico at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, ColumbusCrewSC.com spoke with the American players closest to the action, reflecting on what MAPFRE Stadium and Columbus mean to the rivalry.
These quotes were collected before Dos A Cero 2013 for a series titled "Dos A Cero in Their Words."
USMNT defender Frankie Hejduk (Dos A Cero '05, '09)
"It's a psyhcological factor just for the fact that every time we play [Mexico] in Columbus, we win 2-0. Already, it's in their minds at a time when everyone is so tight and so close in soccer in terms of technically and tactically, any advantage you can get is huge.
"We have an advantage over them that started when they came here and they didn't even come out for a warm-up because they were too cold. Right then, it started. We had already changed their mentality and gameplan of thinking when they come to play us in America. They came to play us here in Columbus, which is a perfect spot. It was rainy, cold, wet, windy and they couldn't handle it. We know we have that edge over them. We know that we can break them in certain ways. We break them at MAPFRE Stadium. How do we do that? We do that by having every fan possible in Columbus and the area surrounding Columbus wanting to come to this game.
"Players are now saying that MAPFRE Stadium should be the home of the National Team and it's because this is where we as players feel comfortable because this is where we win. We haven't lost here. Any stadium where you're always winning and getting a pro-American crowd against a Mexican team, it speaks volumes to not only the players, but to the gameplan in general because we already have that edge even before the game starts.
"Put on top of that a fan base in that game that loves battles, loves fights and loves the gritty play. That's what that game stands for and to be honest, that's what Columbus stands for in a way. We're working hard, we're in your face, we're gutsy, we're gritty.
"We don't care how flashy you are. You come to our town, everything is erased. You're going to get rocked. That's the mentality we have and that mentality carries over into the game. Those games are battles. They're scrappy, they're fights. The last three times, we've been the team that's out-battled, out-fought, out-played and out-scrapped Mexico. I think it's due in-part because they're already mentally deflated when they walk out onto the field."
USMNT forward Landon Donovan (Dos A Cero '01, '05, '09, '13)
"My two favorites memories are my first World Cup Qualifier versus Mexico, which I didn't actually play in the game, but being on the bench and watching Josh Wolff and Earnie Stewart score. Winning 2-0 for the first time there and just realizing what a special atmosphere it was. Some of us had played in big games around the world and experienced that, but we'd never experienced that at home. So to have that was really incredible.
"Then my last experience at MAPFRE Stadium, playing Mexico and winning 2-0, was special. To score a goal there in what ended being my last game against Mexico was really special."
USMNT goakeeper Brad Friedel (Dos A Cero '02)
"That day was great for a lot of reasons. For myself, personally, I obviously used to play for Columbus Crew SC for one. Two, I'm an Ohio native. And three, we got the result, 2-0, against Mexico and that started a wave of games where the U.S. National Team keeps winning when they play at MAPFRE Stadium. That's one of the reasons the city keeps getting big World Cup Qualifiers and also the people of Columbus and surrounding areas, they fill the stadium and create a tremendous atmosphere for all the players to play in front of. I know the Mexican team doesn't like playing here, that's for sure. Long may the winning streak continue.
"The pro-American crowd is really important. Long gone should be the days where we play World Cup Qualifiers against teams where it seems like an away game in the United States. It's a special occasion whenever you can play for your National Team, and on top of that, if you can have a pro-United States crowd against Mexico and beat them, with the rivalry we have it's a great feeling."
USMNT forward Clint Dempsey (Dos A Cero '09, '13)
"In the past, it's been more of a pro-American crowd at MAPFRE Stadium. I remember when I first started with the National Team going to some venues and not feeling like I was at home at all. It felt like we were playing an away game in our own country. That's something that MAPFRE Stadium has always been for us, it's a place where you feel at home. The fans are behind you and they're being the 12th man. It's been great for us. We've been on a good run of form at MAPFRE Stadium and hopefully that's something we can continue in the future."
USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard (Dos A Cero '09,'13)
"The Mexico rivalry is huge. It's everything for us, it's everything for them. Our federations, our countries, our fans: it's the biggest game you're playing...
"MAPFRE Stadium has been really good to us. We feel like we have a big-time advantage here, both with the crowd and psychologically getting on the field and feeling like this is home for us. The crowd gives us an amazing advantage and thankfully we've had some really good results against big teams, including Mexico. It seems to always happen here. We'll look to use that to our advantage every time we play."
USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley (Dos A Cero '09, '13)
"We have history here at MAPFRE Stadium. For soccer in our country, that's not always the case. For us to feel like we walk into a stadium and there's history is a special feeling.
"The people here in Columbus and this part of the United States love soccer. They love our team. They love the United States. When we come here, when we step out onto this field, there's an overwhelming feeling of American support.
"I think when you play against Mexico, when you play in these types of games where so much is on the line, that can push -- that can help the bar swing our way."
