Mexican International and Chivas midfielder Gonzalo Pineda has given a very unique offering of respect in regards to what the United States has done at the 2009 Confederations Cup and the growth that they’ve seen from South of the Border over the last 15 years.

Via Goal

“We all have a sporting dislike of the United States and I believe (Wednesday) we were all rooting for Spain,” Chivas midfielder Gonzalo Pineda told Guadalajara daily Mural. “But we have to respect what the United States is doing.”

Pineda said the United States has set a standard of progress and success that Mexico would do well to duplicate.

“In some way (we have to) emulate them because it is a team that 15 years ago was nothing in world football. They got to work, they don’t shorten processes, you don’t see strange things in their football and they have built up their league,” said Pineda, a member of Mexico’s 2006 World Cup squad. “It is an example of what order in a federation brings and we have to, in some way, think a little bit like them because 15 years ago they said they would be at this level at this time and they are there. They want something and they get it and that’s what we have to respect and somehow copy it. They’ve worked very well and we need to recognize that.”

To Pineda, that the U.S. has achieved what they have with what he said was an inferior talent base made the Americans’ accomplishments greater.

“I’d like for you to tell me one American player who is better than Rafa Marquez, than (Carlos) Vela, then Giovani (Dos Santos). We have a great number of players who are playing in Europe. There’s (Carlos) Salcido, (Ricardo) Osorio, players who are at the highest level and playing, there’s (Andres) Guardado. I don’t see a single player with those types of characteristics on the United States national team,” he said. “But what have they done? Working as a team, they have tried to improve as a team and they’ve achieved that. We have to think like that, to formulate an idea and fight to the death for it.”

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