Mexicans set to join US in clinching trip to Germany

The Mexican national soccer squad and their coach Ricardo La Volpe, seen here in June 2005, can clinch a trip to Germany for the 2006 World Cup football finals with merely a draw at home to winless Panama

A Mexican squad still smarting from an away loss to arch-rival United States can clinch a trip to Germany for the 2006 World Cup football finals with merely a draw at home to winless Panama.

Mexico's 2-0 defeat to the Americans last Saturday allowed the US to become the first team in North American World Cup qualifying to book a trip to Germany.

The Mexicans can claim one of the two other World Cup berths assured to CONCACAF nations. The region's fourth place team plays off for a berth against the winner of Asia's fifth placed play-off in November.

Panama battled to a 1-1 draw with Mexico on home soil in March but will be hard-pressed to repeat the result before a passionate group of Mexican supporters.

Mexican coach Ricardo La Volpe said the US squad has an easier time because so many other sports are popular in the United States whereas football dominates in Mexico, his homeland of Argentina and so many other nations.

"The United States is a small team that has no pressure on them whatsoever," he told reporters after the US match.

"Because everyone is interested in American football and baseball, a lot of people don't even know the match was played."

US star Landon Donovan fired verbal volleys as well demanding respect as the United States have won seven and lost just two of their last 10 matches against Mexico, including a victory that ousted Mexico from the 2002 World Cup in South Korea.

"I expected more from them. At least for the next three or four years, they'll shut up. They can't say anything," Donovan said.

"I hope they respect us. If they don't, they can keep learning. Sooner or later, they have to figure out we are someone to be reckoned with and that we, right now, deserve to be the best team in this region. We've earned it."

Other matches on Wednesday feature Trinidad and Tobago at Costa Rica and the US away in Guatemala.

The Costa Ricans could put themelves on the brink of qualifying for their second successive finals with victory and a Guatemalan defeat, moving six points ahead with only two matches remaining.

A victory by Trinidad and Tobago, who drew 0-0 at home to Costa Rica in March, would leave the final assured World Cup berth up for grabs with two matches remaining.

North American qualifying continues on October 8 when the US team visits Costa Rica, Mexico hosts Guatemala and Panama plays host to Trinidad and Tobago.

CONCACAF's qualifying concludes four days later when Mexico plays at Trinidad and Tobago, Panama travels to the United States and Costa Rica are away in Guatemala.