To the names Landon Donovan, Brian McBride and Cobi Jones, Mexican fans have started to add the name Eddie Johnson.
The young FC Dallas striker is one of the more surprising U.S. revelations of the World Cup qualifying campaign, but still is one of the names that the Tricolor little thinks about.
"I've heard people talking about him, I think he scored against Trinidad & Tobago, but in all reality I really don't know him; at least I don't remember if I've ever faced him," said Mexico goalkeeper Óscar "Conejo" Pérez. "I only know that he's very fast, strong and that he gets forward very well."
Pérez will have to quickly learn about Johnson, a young goalscorer who didn't appear in the U.S. team's media guide last year, but has already scored six goals in four World Cup qualifiers and seven in the last six games for his country.
He was the first player to hit for a hat trick in nearly 40 years for the Stars and Stripes.
"My teammates have done a great job in passing the ball quickly," Johnson said. "And with every game my confidence increases more."
Nevertheless, the Mexicans appear to have learned little from their bad experiences and once again are minimizing the potential danger of another young U.S. player like those who have succeeded in the past -- like Landon Donovan, for example, who they dismissed before the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Neither defenders Gonzalo Pineda, Ramón Morales, Carlos Salcido, nor Rafael Márquez for that matter, give the impression that they are terribly worried or conscious of what they'll have to do differently against the lethal striker from Dallas.
"I don't know him. I haven't really heard anyone talk about him," said Morales, one of those players in the Mexico team eliminated by the USA in Korea/Japan. "But I barely arrived with the national team yesterday and I don't know if we have some special plan for him. I'm sure that LaVolpe knows him and we'll see what we'll do."
The striker, who turned 21 last week and has been linked with a number of European clubs after his recent run, has rapidly improved; he's steadily shone more and more and left behind the aspect where he was looked as only as a lanky player who could only chase down the ball.
"I haven't gained a pound," he said. "I just think that as much as I've played in the last year and a half, and the manner that I take care of my body, is what appears different."
Nevertheless, the biggest change is that he's finished off his clear chances at goal, and more that he's put himself in good positions and created good opportunities.
"When the ball is in the area, that's where I make my money and put food on the table," Johnson said. "I can't waste those opportunities."
Johnson said he isn't concerned about the "Azteca myth," although he recognizes it will be a special place to play and a special game.
"I've heard it's a difficult place to play," he said. "All the young American players dream of playing in front of thousands of fans."
Johnson discounted that the Azteca fans will be a factor, since they only have to know what will count -- playing their football and forgetting the stands.
"It's going to be a battle," he said. "If we have to win ugly, we'll win ugly. We have to do everything possible to obtain a good result."
Carlos A. Nova is a reporter with Al Dia in Dallas. Gabriel Cabarrouy collaborated with the story.
