Mexico & Algeria will face-off for the first time in 35 years
Mexico will end its European Tour on Tuesday with a game against Algeria. While some consider this a downgrade after the clash with the Netherlands, Algeria is one of Africa’s up and coming teams and newly crowned African Cup of Nations Champion. El Tri was originally slated to play New Zealand, but that game fell through. Qatar was to be New Zealand’s replacement until an agreement with Algeria was reached for the match. This game will mark only the second time the two nations will play.
Their only other game took place almost 35 years ago on December 7, 1985, in Irapuato. In front of 15,000 fans, La Seleccion were victorious 2-0 with Manuel Negrete goals in the 40th minute and a penalty kick from newly appointed Mazatlan F.C. manager, Tomas Boy in the 70th. On that note, six of the starting players from that game, including Boy, went on to coach in Liga MX.
El Tri, which was ranked 33rd at the time, played the game with a 3-1-4-1 formation. The starting lineup consisted of goalkeeper Pablo Larios, defenders Felix Cruz Barbosa, Raul Servin, and Mario Trejo. Midfielders were Javier Aguirre, Tomas Boy, Miguel Espana, Carlos Munoz, Manuel Negrete, and Agustin Manzo, with Luis Flores as the lone striker.
The team was coached by Bora Milutinovic, who was in his first stint as coach of El Tri. He compiled a record of ten wins, five losses, and three draws, with 21 goals in favor and 19 goals against. Bora was able to get Mexico to that elusive Quinto Partido in a World Cup, losing to Germany at the 1986 World Cup.
The game was a preparation game for the 1986 World Cup Mexico was to be hosting and came two months after the infamous earthquake of 1985 that devastated Mexico City.
Click on the ETO Podcast below to check out what El Super Mojado and Joe Rodriguez had to say regarding el Tri’s next opponent at the 9 minute 30 second mark, and remember to mark your calendar and catch the action Tuesday October the 13th at 3 P.M. E.T.
