World Cup: Mexico’s progress might impact America versus Cruz Azul at the Rose Bowl

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If Mexico manages to make it all the way to the World Cup final on July 11, or even as far as the quarterfinals, it could impact the attraction of a game scheduled to take place at the Rose Bowl on July 10.

Club America is set to play Cruz Azul at 7 p.m. that evening, but both teams feature players who conceivably could still be in South Africa, or at least taking a break after their World Cup endeavors.

On paper, Las Aguilas (the Eagles) versus La Maquina (the Machine) is a good matchup. America has won 10 Mexican league titles and Cruz Azul has won eight. Their rivalry is one of the best in the entire CONCACAF region, overshadowed perhaps only by the America-Chivas de Guadalajara rivalry.

But three key players could be missing, including a couple of household names. Goalkeeper Guillermo ‘Memo’ Ochoa plays for America, as does defender Juan Carlos Valenzuela. For Cruz Azul, there is hard-nosed midfielder Gerardo Torrado.

The three players would be missed, but America-Cruz Azul carries enough cache that even without them the Arroyo Seco is sure to be lively on the night before the World Cup final.

--Grahame L. Jones