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 News from Around the Americas | August 2006 
After the Exodus
 SI.com
| | Pavel Pardo (left) and Ricardo Osorio both left for Germany's VfB Stuttgart, part of the biggest exodus of Mexican stars to Europe. (AP) |
From the moment Pachuca hoisted the Clausura 2006 trophy last spring to the start of the Apertura '06 on Saturday, the Mexican league has gone through some unprecedented changes.
The top clubs are still around, but several of the best Mexican players migrated to Europe in ways never seen before. The top two defenders in the Mexican league are gone. The most popular forward in the country will now ply his trade abroad. A respected veteran midfielder will test his skills in the Old World.
Top-level players are leaving the familiar surroundings of Mexican soccer for the highly competitive European leagues. While these moves are a boon for the Mexican national team, the league and its fans will certainly miss watching these high-quality players on a regular basis.
In the end, however, the league will move on and it should happen quickly. Apertura '06 will be played at a high level from start to finish. With no distractions from the Mexican national team, clubs will have their top players at their disposal all season long. Chivas won't miss five players every time the national team plays; nor will América or Cruz Azul suffer key losses at the expense of El Tri.
Unlike the Clausura '06 season, clubs and players - not the national team - will determine the outcome of this season.
Contenders: América, Chivas, Toluca, Atlante
For the last two years, Chivas has been hampered by the fact that it is the only club producing a high number of national-team talent, which has left its roster bare during key stretches. But now, Mexico is without a coach and won't be playing any meaningful international games the rest of the year. Chivas' wealth of talent is not in question as Oswaldo Sánchez, Omar Bravo, Ramón Morales and Gonzalo Pineda are among the elite at their positions in Mexico.
América also stands a lot to suffer once El Tri is back in full swing as goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa only figures to get more call-ups. The Águilas did little to address their defense but their offseason moves - highlighted by the addition of prolific scorer Matías Vuoso - leave them with the top attack entering the campaign. Cuauhtémoc Blanco needs to get healthy, but América should battle for league supremacy regardless.
Toluca might have lost some of its class when it forced Chivas to play on the same day as its high-profile friendly against Barcelona, but Los Diablos Rojos are still classy on the field. Américo Gallego is one of the best coaches in all of Mexico. In his two seasons with Toluca, Gallego has led the team to the championship and semifinals. The club might not pound opponents into submission as Enrique Meza's teams did at the turn of the century, but Toluca is as capable a club as any in Mexico.
Atlante was one of the surprising clubs from last year but this one looks poised to stick around. With the addition of Gustavo Bizcayzacú, Atlante now has a potent attack force as Chile's Patricio Galaz will team well with the Uruguayan. Not since Sebastián "Chamagol" González and Luis Gabriel Rey manned the frontline for Los Potros Hierro has Atlante fielded such a formidable attack. Coupled with its standout defense (a league-low 15 goals allowed), Atlante should be near the top of the table entering the Liguilla. |
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