Today’s Video: “Tri”-mendous goals!

It’s a good time to be a fan of Mexico’s men’s and women’s national soccer teams.

Three weeks ago the men's squad faced an uncomfortable situation when five players were removed from the Gold Cup team after testing positive for a banned substance. El Tri were still able to overcome adversity throughout the tournament, culminating in their defense of the Gold Cup title. Mexico’s young stars shined in an emphatic 4-2 victory on Sunday over their bitter rivals, the U.S. Despite falling behind 2-0 early in the match Mexico retained their composure and Pablo Barrera and Andres Guardado tied the match up just before halftime. The second half was all Mexico with this golazo by Giovanni dos Santos serving as an exclamation mark for El Tri:

Sadly the team’s off-field troubles continued less than 48 hours after their Gold Cup victory. According to the Mexican soccer federation eight players were removed from the squad heading to Argentina for the Copa America after allegedly partying with prostitutes in a Quito, Ecuador hotel.

In the meantime, the ladies started out their participation in the Women’s World Cup on the right foot. Much like their male compatriots, the Mexican women fell behind early in their first group match to England yesterday. But in a moment of inspiration Monica Ocampo launched a 40-yard rocket that allowed Mexico to equalize in a match that ended tied 1-1:

Video Source - YouTube
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Reuters, El Universal, Boston.com

Daily Headlines: June 20, 2011

* Brazil: Protests have been held over the lack of racial diversity at Sao Paulo fashion week after fashion labels reportedly ignored a racial quota put in place since 2009 for Afro-Brazilian models.

* Cuba: Most Cubans were unable to identify several prominent dissident figures according to a 2008 survey conducted by U.S. officials and recently uncovered by WikiLeaks.

* Guatemala: Authorities arrested a former army chief who served during the infamous military government of Efrain Rios Montt and accused him of human rights abuses.

* U.S.: German magazine Der Spiegel claimed that FIFA is investigating three high-scoring Gold Cup games due to "suspicious betting patterns" in Asia.

Image – Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images via The Guardian (“Models at the Huis Clos show at São Paulo fashion week in Brazil.”)
Online Sources- BBC News, MiamiHerald.com, ESPN, The Guardian, The Latin Americanist

Five Mexican players fail drug test (Updated)

In possibly the biggest scandal to hit Mexico’s national soccer team since the team was barred from the 1990 World Cup, five players tested positive for a banned substance.

“(On Wednesday night) we received the anti-doping analysis of 14 players of the 'Tri' that were done on May 21 and five players showed positive,” said the general secretary of Mexico’s soccer federation (FMF, in Spanish) Decio de Maria yesterday. De Maria added that the tainted players were kicked off the team currently playing in the Gold Cup and that they could face a suspension of as much as two years.

The five players tested positive for clenbuterol, which is a banned agent used to treat breathing disorders but is also regularly used by dopers. De Maria and others in the FMF believed that the players ate accidently tainted meat and tests were being done on several suspected beef samples. Meanwhile, the five will reportedly undergo retesting later today at UCLA.

Update: The Mexican government denied the FMF's allegations of meat tainted with clenbuterol. "(Mexico's) health department said Friday that cases of contaminated beef in Mexico are fewer than one in a million," according to the AP.

Among the group of players that failed drug testing was Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson "Sinha" and defender Edgar Dueñas. Guillermo Ochoa may be the player most hurt by the failed test after Carlos Reinoso, the coach of his club team in Mexico, claimed that the goalkeeper had a “concrete offer” to play in France that was off the table after results of the failed test were divulged.

Concern over the banned players extended to Mexico’s female squad that is scheduled to play next month in the Women’s World Cup in Germany. Head coach Leonardo Cuéllar expressed his hope that his squad is clean:

“Looking at the dates (when the failed tests took place I don’t think there’s any danger. We went on tour in Quintana Roo and then to Colombia. That is my hope and I think everything is under control”

The controversy didn’t seem to trouble the Mexican team much on the field last night as “El Tri” pummeled Cuba 5-0 in their Gold Cup group stage match. Nonetheless, officials with the CONCACAF regional governing body will reportedly meet today to discuss possible sanctions against the Mexican team.

Image – Los Angeles Times (“Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa Mexico during a 5-0 victory over El Salvador in Gold Cup qualifying on Sunday.”)
Online Sources- centraldeportiva.com, Canadian Press, Milenio, ESPN Soccernet, The Guardian

Daily Headlines: June 6, 2011

* Chile: Thousands of Chileans have been evacuated due to the erupting Puyehue volcano that has also spread ash into parts of neighboring Argentina.

* Brazil: President Dilma Rousseff launched the Brazil Without Poverty program that includes more funds to the country's poorest regions, and expanding public health and education plans.

* U.S.: The Obama administration might add provisions for unemployment aid to legislation for free trade pacts with three countries including Panama and Colombia.

* Mexico: El Tri's defense of its Gold Cup title began last night with a convincing 5-0 group stage win over El Salvador.

Image - Martin Iniguez/AP via The Guardian ("A column of smoke and ash rises from Chile's Puyehue volcano after it started erupting for the first time in decades.")
Online Sources - BBC News, Sky News, USA TODAY, Bloomberg

Mexico thumps U.S. in Gold Cup final

In an inspired, brilliant, and splendid 45 minutes of soccer, Mexico overturned over a decade of demons in the U.S.

“El Tri” beat the “Stars and Stripes” for the first time on U.S. soil in 124 months with a convincing 5-0 thumping in the Gold Cup final. A pro-Mexico crowd of over 79,000 at Giants Stadium saw five different players score to give Mexico its record fifth Gold Cup title.

Mexico and the U.S. will meet in a rematch August 12 in Mexico City in a crucial World Cup qualifying game. Knowing that the U.S. has never won at the Estadio Azteca, Mexican fans vociferously celebrated Sunday’s victory like the thousands at Mexico City’s Independence Monument:

Many of the chants were original, like this one shouted by several hundred fans bounding up and down to celebrate the win: "El que no brinca es Gringo."

Translated, that means: "Those who aren't jumping are Gringos."

The following are highlights from Sunday’s game:

Congrats and kudos to Mexico for a fine effort against an outmatched U.S. side. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to try to quell my dejection by watching this a few times.

Online Sources- YouTube, New York Times, USA TODAY, AP, AHN