Sunday June 17th is one of those World Cup days which the not so die-hard may consider a ho-hum day of fixtures and may be tempted to do other things which they find exciting or think necessary like gardening or re-arranging their Panini doubles. Then they'll remember that Brazil are playing in the late match and realize what fools they've been.
Before Brazil play their opening match against Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia start the day, followed by Germany and Mexico. The first one could be one of those surprisingly memorable matches or it could be a cause for regret for not having planted those new flowers in the garden instead. The second will depend on how brave Mexico are to attack the Germans.
On June 17th, 1962 (also a Sunday) Brazil beat Czechoslovakia in the World Cup final 3-1 to win their second consecutive title. In 1994, the opening matches of that year's World Cup were played on June 17th. Holders Germany beat Bolivia 1-0 in the opening match which was about as forgettable as Germany's last World Cup match, the 1990 final. In the second match Spain and South Korea gave the Americans a little more reason not to hate soccer yet as they played out a 2-2 draw.
Spain and South Korea had played each other exactly four years earlier in Italy, on June 17th, 1990. Spain won this won 3-1.
At Japan/South Korea 2002, Mexico lost 2-0 in the last 16 to the USA, on June 17th. In South Africa, on June 17th, 2010, Mexico beat France 2-0 in what could be regarded as one of Mexico's greatest victories except they were playing a French team who's fighting spirit was aimed only at their team mates and coach and not their opponents. And on June 17th, 2014 Mexico did achieve a great result: a 0-0 draw against hosts Brazil.
So June 17th is a mixed bag for Mexico. They've had all three results so this can only mean one thing: something spectacular and unusual is going to happen, a last minute winning goal off the crossbar, decided by goal line technology.
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