Sunday's match between the United States and Argentina will represent the second time the two teams have met in less than a year. Despite a 7th minute penalty kick goal for the United States in last summer's Copa America Tournament, the Albiceleste stormed to a 4-1 victory. The loss ended an undefeated run through 2007 for the Stars and Stripes, which featured a CONCACAF Gold Cup™ victory Championship and a 10-0-1 record under head coach, Bob Bradley. Argentina, who beat Mexico 4-1 on Wednesday night in San Diego, is 6-2-0 when facing the United States in all competitions; a record that dates back to 1928. The USA will enter Sunday on the heels of a 1-0 defeat to host Spain, in a game played on Wednesday night in Santander. A youth-infused team kept the score level for much of the match, before falling 1-0 to an exquisite 79th minute goal scored by Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez.
Sunday's other match will feature a Mexican side in the midst of transition, as interim manager Jesus "Chucho" Ramirez will guide El Tri for three more games before giving way to new boss, Sven-Göran Erikson. Erikson watched from the stands as a scintillating Argentinean side seemed to live up to its "world's best" billing, scoring 3goals in the opening half hour en route to a 4-1 triumph. Mexico, currently ranked #1 in CONCACAF and #14 in the World by FIFA, has not faced Peru since a friendly game held in Giant's Stadium in 2003; a game Peru won 3-1. Mexico is 11-8-5 all-time against Peru and will look to build on a tremendous showing against CONMEBOL opponents in last year's Copa America Tournament. Peru, who have struggled through the early phases of South American qualification, will look to rebound from their most recent result; a heart-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Spain courtesy of a Joan Capdevila volley seconds from the end of their May 31st clash.
