As USMNT fans, we tend to be obsessed with the fortunes of Mexico. El Tri is our biggest rival, the other CONCACAF giant, and the footballing nation by whom we measure ourselves (for now). Without the US National Team in action on a qualifying match day, my eyes will be turned to the south tonight, to take a look at exactly what is going on with the hated Mexican villains.

Much has been made of Mexico's recent struggles in World Cup qualifying, and it's true that things haven't exactly gone as planned with one game remaining in the first half of the hexagonal. But tonight at Azteca, Mexico has a chance to dramatically turn momentum in their favor. They face the Soca Warriors from Trinidad & Tobago in their vaunted citadel, and a win would go a long way towards relieving some of the pressure being heaped on the team and newly installed manager Javier Aguirre.

Aguirre has called for patience and calm from the Mexican media, stating that he believes things are not all darkness and gloom. And he's right, for the most part. The Mexicans still have a clear path to qualification, and gaining full points at home tonight against T&T is the first step. While it's certainly not an easy task, it should be within the abilities of a talented team. The reasonable expectation is that El Tri will still qualify for the World Cup, and do so in the first three places of the hexagonal, meaning that they won't be required to play a tense two-legged playoff with the fifth place CONMEBOL side.

I've argued on this site in the past that a struggling Mexican team is bad for American soccer; complacency (in my opinion) is a problem for the US, especially as public scrutiny is non-existent. Without the giant of Mexico looming on the southern horizon, there would be less imperative on US Soccer to push for improvement in the program on a large and rapid scale. So while I'm not exactly rooting for El Tri against the Soca Warriors tonight, I won't be too broken up if they do come out on top.

Which is what I expect; I don't see T&T seriously threatening in Azteca, and would be shocked if anything other than a Mexican victory comes out of the match. Aguirre should put out a strong attacking side, take advantage of the crowd and the altitude, and run Trinidad & Tobago ragged in the first fifteen minutes. From there it's simply a matter of controlling the game, something the Mexicans do well when required.

I can't root for Mexico, and I'm more than likely going to be pulling strongly for the upset; but my heart and my head are often at odds, and tonight will be a perfect example.