LONDRES (AP) — Un par de datitos podrían hacer cambiar de parecer a quienes piensen que la final del fútbol olímpico entre México y Brasil será un paseo para los brasileños.

Para empezar, México ya le ha ganado a Brasil en finales importantes. Lo derrotó 4-3 en la final de la Copa de las Confederaciones de 1999, jugada en el estadio Azteca, y lo goleó 3-0 en la final del mundial sub17 del 2005, que le dio a México su primer título mundial en cualquier categoría.

Por otro lado, México cuenta con un equipo compacto, que sabe a lo que juega y que saca buenos resultados incluso cuando las cosas no le van bien. En otras palabras, Brasil no podrá confiarse ni siquiera si juega mejor.

México se vio desbordado por momentos por Senegal en los cuartos de final. Pero capeó los temporales, no perdió la línea y no perdonó cuando se le presentaron ocasiones de anotar. Terminó ganando 4-2 en un alargue.

Las cosas también se presentaron mal en las semifinales contra Japón, que anotó un gol madrugador. Nuevamente los mexicanos mantuvieron la calma y ganaron 3-1.

"Este equipo tiene mucho carácter", afirmó el técnico Luis Fernando Tena. "Mi preocupación (contra Japón) era que el equipo no cayera en ansiedad, en precipitaciones y empezara a jugar al pelotazo, sin respetar nuestro estilo de tocar y tocar hasta encontrar el momento justo para poder profundizar".

"Pero no, el equipo reaccionó bien, atacó y empezó a profundizar más, tratando de construir", manifestó.

El equipo de Mena mantiene las características que vienen mostrando los conjuntos mexicanos desde hace bastante tiempo: disciplina, aplicación táctica y un toque prolijo del balón.

Mena sostiene que a esas virtudes los jugadores jóvenes mexicanos le agregan "una nueva mentalidad" ganadora.

"Fuimos campeones en la categoría Sub17, tercer lugar en la Sub20, ahora estamos en la final. La Copa de Oro México la ganó con mucha categoría, con autoridad, demostrando que era por mucho el mejor del torneo", expresó. "Se ve desde los Sub17 que quieren jugar en el extranjero, que no tienen ningún complejo y que quieren progresar, ya no se fijan tanto en las fronteras".

Otro factor a tomar en cuenta: México tiene suerte. Sus victorias ante Senegal y Japón fueron ayudadas por gruesas fallas defensivas de sus rivales en los momentos decisivos.

Brasil se topará con un rival que maneja bien la pelota y llega al área contraria con toques rápidos. Que sabe esperar a que se abran espacios y aprovecha cualquier descuido. Si Brasil no anota rápido y se adelanta demasiado en su afán por marcar, podría pagarlo caro, porque el contragolpe mexicano puede ser letal.

México, por otro lado, no tiene nada que perder, pues ya llegó más lejos que nunca en una justa olímpica. Brasil, en cambio, carga sobre sus hombros el peso de una frustración de décadas, dado que el título olímpico es al único trofeo que nunca ha ganado.

Ninguno de los dos equipos tiene jugadores suspendidos, pero en México está en duda Giovani dos Santos, quien sufrió un problema muscular que obligó a reemplazarlo al terminar el primer tiempo del partido con Japón.

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