U.S.-Mexico soccer match should heat up old rivalry

This script could have been written by ESPN2.

The United States and Mexico are kicking off the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifying by meeting each other in cold, damp Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday night.

Except it might not be that cold when this red-hot rivalry returns to action.

"We are finally here in Columbus," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said Monday. "It seems like we've talked about this game for a long time."

It's not just that the U.S. and Mexico are the two teams from this region most likely to qualify for South Africa next year, they're also bitter rivals, in part because of geographic proximity and in part because the Mexico team, which used to dominate the series, now finds itself dominated, especially on the road.

Bradley, of course, barely hinted at that bitterness and spoke of the respect he has for Mexico.

"Our focus is on Mexico," Bradley said. "We always respect the talent that they have, the way they play, and again, it's interesting and ironic that we end up playing them first."

While the United States sailed through the last round of qualifying, Mexico enters the Hexagonal wounded and having struggled to reach this final round.

Although Bradley kept repeating how much "respect" he has for Mexico, he noted that Mexico's previous round of qualifying "was a weird one for them" and suggested they "took their foot off the gas" after a good start to the semifinals.

One change in Mexico's favor is that it won't be as cold as expected. The temperature could be around 60 degrees Wednesday.

"I don't think it will be 60 when we kick off," Bradley said. "I think it will be the kind of conditions that make for a good game. That was what we were hoping for."

And Bradley said his players feel good about the pro-USA crowd expected in Columbus.

"They enjoy the crowd that comes and roots us on," Bradley said. "The fact that it's a smaller stadium really ensures that the atmosphere is great. The fact that it's going to be in some ways a fast field, a fast game - it really is the kind of game that players get excited for."