Nuremberg, Germany – Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe was making all the wrong moves, his growing number of critics said. Leaving off favorites from the World Cup roster. Putting on players who weren’t really Mexican, according to many Mexicans. Not playing the right players.
Mexico’s pre-World Cup preparations were so volatile, the football association and La Volpe mutually agreed that this would be his last task as national coach. La Volpe, however, appears ready to go out with a giant “I told you so.”
La Volpe’s decision Sunday to start little-used forward Omar Bravo and insert midfielder Antonio Naelson (also know as Zinha), a naturalized citizen born in Brazil, at halftime gave Mexico a huge 3-1 victory over Iran.
Bravo scored twice, once off a Zinha assist, and Zinha scored the clincher in a big second half to get Mexico off to a superb World Cup start. Of 23 teams that won their first game in the past two World Cups, 20 advanced to the next round of 16. Not only did Mexico win, only Germany has scored more goals through the first eight World Cup matches.
Mexico certainly was capable of this. Its 67 goals in 18 qualifier games topped the world. But everyone expected it would be Jared Borgetti, Mexico’s new star whose 14 goals also topped the world. Or it would be Jose Fonseca, although his demotion to the bench has added to the summer fire under La Volpe.
No one expected this from Bravo, a 26-year-old star for Guadalajara in the Mexican League who only played in four qualifying matches, all as a substitute. In fact, he didn’t get off the bench in the 2005 Confederations Cup.
“Maybe the players thought that after two or three substitutions, Mexico is going to be easier or something,” Iran coach Branko Ivankovic said.
In the 29th minute, with Iran dominating the ball and tempo, Borgetti had a free kick from the far right side. Guillermo Franco headed it in front of the goal to Bravo, who booted it past goalie Ebrahim Mirzapour.
Iran, however, already had developed confidence controlling the ball in front of a jammed pro- Mexico crowd of 41,000. This is the best team in Iran’s history, and it is challenging Japan and South Korea for Asian supremacy.
In the 36th minute, Mehdi Mahdavikia made a beautiful corner kick that goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez leaped at but couldn’t reach. Rahman Rezaei headed it goalward, but the ball bounced off Sanchez right to Yahya Golmohammadi, who booted it home for a 1-1 halftime tie.
The second half started with Zinha replacing Argentine-born Franco – heady enough for Zinha, who started his athletic life as an amateur boxer. He never thought he would lift his country to one night of World Cup glory. Whose country he really belongs fueled debate in Mexico, where many believe only Mexican-born players belong on the roster.
Still, the underdog Iranians slowed the pace, which cost them in the 76th minute. Mirzapour poorly cleared the ball back to Mexico, which Rezaei intercepted back. However, he was closely marked by Zinha, who deflected a pass, regained possession and perfectly fed the streaking Bravo. He shot it in a wide-open right side of the net.
Three minutes later, it was Zinha who took a long cross from Mario Mendez and headed it into the left corner. Zinha punched the air with his fist, something La Volpe would like to throw at his critics today.
“In the first half, everyone was very nervous,” La Volpe said. “We weren’t getting possession of the ball. In the second half, the team stabilized. We had more possessions and that’s why we won the game.”
The pregame ceremony had a touching moment. People in this Bavarian town where Adolf Hitler began the Third Reich held protests of Iran’s anti-Israel government. Iran’s team responded by presenting Sanchez with flowers and condolences. Sanchez had to fly home Thursday for his father’s funeral.
La Volpe said the way Sanchez played, he appeared “to have an angel watching over him.”
* PORTUGAL 1, ANGOLA 0 at Cologne – Portugal broke a slump in first games at major tournaments by hanging on against newcomer Angola.
Portugal was stunningly beaten in its openers at the 2002 World Cup by the United States and at the 2004 European Championship by Greece.
Pauleta scored his 47th goal for Portugal in the fourth minute, tapping into an empty net after captain Luis Figo drew out the goalie.
* NETHERLANDS 1, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 0 at Leipzig – The Netherlands joined favorite Argentina at the top of Group C, considered the toughest of the first round.
In a clockwork move in the 18th minute, Mark van Bommel fed a long pass to Robin van Persie near midfield. The winger delicately lobbed it over the defense toward winger Arjen Robben.
No one could match his quickness, and despite some desperate tugging at his shirt, Robben coolly slipped the ball under goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric.
Today’s games
Australia vs. Japan, 7 a.m., ESPN2, KCEC-50 (Spanish)
U.S. vs. Czech Republic, 10 a.m., ESPN2, KCEC-50
Italy vs. Ghana, 1 p.m., ESPN2, KCEC-50
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
