Since he was chosen with the second overall selection in the 2005 SuperDraft, Chivas USA standout Brad Guzan has experienced a great deal for both club and country.
The reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year has represented the United States in South America, Europe and Africa, as well as in matches on U.S. soil.
Guzan, though, has yet to experience a U.S.-Mexico game. But that could change on Wednesday. Guzan is one of two goalkeepers on the 19-man roster for the United States as the team will play Mexico in Houston.
Having experienced the last U.S.-Mexico game in person, Guzan said he would try to maintain his focus in an environment that could be intimidating.
"Aside from being in attendance at the Gold Cup final, I've never been in a game where I'm on the bench or playing against Mexico," Guzan said. "You go about your business and you try not to think about who you are playing, what's going through your head psychologically, you just go out there and play."
For the United States, going out and playing will mean doing so in a hostile environment. Though the United States has yet to lose to Mexico in nine games this decade, most of the matches have come before not-so-friendly fans. A year ago, the U.S. beat Mexico before crowds of 64,462 (in a friendly in Arizona) and 60,000 (at the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in Chicago). Both large crowds were predominantly pro-Mexico, as Wednesday's crowd promises to be.
One of Guzan's Chivas USA teammates said he knew what Guzan and the U.S. would be in store for.
"Definitely they are going to feel like the visitors in the United States," Jonathan Bornstein said. "There are going to be 95 percent Mexican fans in green and white."
Bornstein played all 90 minutes in both of last year's games and did well for himself. Against Mexico in Arizona, Bornstein solidified his position on the U.S. team and set himself up for a year's worth of national team action in the United States' 2-0 win. At the Gold Cup final, Bornstein was part of a backline that held the Mexican attack for most of the match as the U.S. beat Mexico 2-1 to defend the Gold Cup title.
Having been baptized by fire, Bornstein said he had some advice for Guzan and others who have yet to experience U.S.-Mexico.
"Just expect to go in there and get booed but let it pump you up. That's what it did for me," Bornstein said. "It's like going to another country and playing. It'll be a good atmosphere. It'll be loud.
"When you are on the field, you are barely this far away from each other," he said, pointing to someone a few feet away, "and have to yell to hear each other. It's just a great experience for any player, young or old."
Offseason surgery kept Bornstein from being a part of the United States national team's January camp. However, Guzan could end up representing Chivas USA on the national team. Guzan played well in the USA's 2-0 win against Sweden in January. Wednesday's match could see Guzan splitting duties with Tim Howard as the two did in a 1-0 win in South Africa in November.
If he plays, Guzan will undoubtedly feel a lot of pressure from the Mexican attack. The U.S. has pulled out wins against Mexico this decade, most of them shutouts, but Mexico persistently pressured the goal in those games.
Guzan isn't expecting anything less than a difficult opponent.
"Any time you represent your national team, whether it's Mexico, Sweden, Guatemala, whoever, it's going to be a tough match," he said.
Chivas USA coach Preki, who played against Mexico as a member of the United States national team, said Mexico is as tough now as they were when Mexico dominated the rivalry.
"We all know in the past every time U.S. played Mexico, Mexico kind of dominated us big-time," Preki said. "As we all know, we have all grown as a soccer nation, players are getting experienced, we have a league that is getting better and better every day, players are getting more educated and tactically better and for that matter it's getting more technical for Mexico. Lately we have been dominating those games but nevertheless we've been dominating the games in USA, even if the crowd is more on Mexico's side than our side."
Bornstein, meanwhile, foresees another similar result as the ones he helped gain a year ago.
"I think the U.S. is playing well. We saw good moments against Sweden in the HDC. We're going to be solid," he said. "If we just play our game, we should come out wiht a 2-1 or 2-0. We should get a couple goals and play solid defense to solidify the win."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
