Mexico vs. New Zealand, 2014 World Cup qualifying: El Tri bulldoze their way to five goals

Before the game, we asked five questions. Here’s how the game answered them.

1. How much is home field worth?

Mexico is as good as through to the World Cup after thrashing New Zealand, 5-1, in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying play-off. El Tri completely overwhelmed the Kiwis, battering them all over the field and igniting an Estadio Azteca crowd that has had little to cheer about this year.

The tension in Mexico was clear as soon as the teams walked onto the pitch and were greeted by only tepid cheering. It was as if the crowd was holding its breath and that lasted for more than a half-hour as several looks at goal were turned away. Glen Moss made a nice save on Miguel Layun, while Maza Rodriguez hit the bar to keep El Tri from finding the net and the Azteca in panic.

(GIF via @brocadfael)

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The magnitude of the tie will be apparent on Wednesday when the two teams take the field in front of nearly 100,000 fans -- fans that have cheered, booed and sat in stunned silence throughout the year. The tension will be higher than ever and it will be up to Mexico to get a country that has turned skeptical at best, and contemptuous at worst, on its side.

Miguel Herrera will lead El Tri, making him the fourth manager to lead the team into a qualifier this season, and he has been nothing but positive, if not arrogant leading into the match. He has all but guaranteed that Mexico will win on Wednesday and win the tie, claiming that there is no doubt El Tri will make it to Brazil because “Mexico is Mexico.” That talk puts him in the spotlight and puts him on the firing line if Mexico fall, whether it is his doing or not.

After all, Mexico is Mexico.

Mexico is Mexico.