JUAREZ - What makes one soccer team better than another?

That is the discussion I had with a colleague of mine during the big U.S. vs. Mexico match Sunday afternoon in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

While I do agree the U.S. team no doubt has better training facilities at their disposal, I disagree that that is the sole reason why the team dominates the soccer world.

Sure, lifting weights in a good facility do make a difference, but I maintain that cardio conditioning and stamina are two of the major factors that have helped the U.S. team separate themselves from the other teams in the CONCACAF tournament.

And those are two things you don't really need great facilities to train in to accomplish. Of course there is the talent factor, but I didn't want to get into that since my colleague drove us to the game.

Anyway.....

The game was everything that was expected and more. Some of the 22,000 fans sat and stood on the walls of the stadium.

It's funny, I never saw them climb up there. They just sort of appeared there. Driving around the parking lots and then walking around the stadium it was hard to spot U.S. fans.

Before the game we did interview a Juarense who wore a U.S. jersey. I hope he was able to enjoy the game without too much teasing from the fans of the Mexican team.

It was also great to see all the vendors outside the stadium. Don't have a Mexican jersey to wear? You could buy one there. Hungry? Get a burrito. If you needed an emergency luchador mask, they also had you covered.

My colleague and I finally made our way into the stadium to the press box to catch the last few minutes of the Canada-Costa Rica match. We sat behind the Trinidad and Tobago team, who were a lively bunch.

They would listen to their iPods, play their PSPs and watch the games all at once. True multiaskers after my own heart.

I realize of course that they can burn off calories in no time during a soccer practice or game, but I still found it funny to see the Trinidad and Tobago team eating large cups of potato chips with hot sause or two personal pizzas. Except for having no soccer talent, i could surely make the Trinidad and Tobago team if this is what they do in their off time.

I could certainly earn a gold medal in snacking and listening to music while playing video games.

Some of them didn't have to wait for practice to burn off the calories as they danced a little when music was played over the public address system.

As the first half of the U.S.-Mexico game wore on, I started to believe it could very well end up in a tie if Mexico was able to become more aggressive and stop playing so defensively.

Mexico finally tied the game 1-1, but it was a shortlived moment of hope for the team and its fans as less than a minute later the U.S. came back and scored again to take the lead.

The goal seemed to take the wind out of the Mexican team's sails even as their fans tried to drum up support with chants of "¡Si se puede!" and possibly good-naturedly calling some U.S. team players cry babies for perceived prat falls that left them lingering on their hands and knees waiting for a referee's whistle.

The Trinidad and Tobago team were very into the match, clearly cheering for Mexico. They gasped and shouted loudly in protest when U.S. goalie Hope Solo would carry the ball a few steps outside of the penalty box.

'A member of the Trinidad and Tobago team took ill during the game, first laying down on the seats before medical personnel were called. She was given oxygen for several minutes before she was finally moved for more treatment. Although we were in the shady area, it still felt a bit stuffy with not much of a breeze and a temperature hovering at 80 or above.

So maybe the heat got the best of her or it could have been food poisoning. Back to the game.

The Mexican team's strategy seemed to change during the second half with mid-fielder Tania Morales virtually giving up playing offense and almost exclusively worked on defending Heather O'Reilly.

The U.S. won 3-1 and will face Costa Rica at 5 p.m. Wednesday with Mexico playing Canada following that game. The winners of both games will receive automatic berths to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and will play for the championship April 12.

Tickets can be bought in El Paso at International Soccer on Montana. Mexico has its work cut out for them and hopefully the fans will show up again to try and help their underdog team.

Before going, I have to give propers to the U.S. Soccer communication staff for putting together a great blog at http://wnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/.

The blog is updated frequently with informative, sometimes entertaining, blogs and several pictures. If you have a strong stomach, click on the archive section and watch Solo's video where she describes an injury in Mexico she received during a game several years ago. It's sure to make even the non-squeamish squirm a little.