Soccer: Mexico and "state"

David Crow says: "I shall abstain from commenting on what constitutes a state, deferring to much abler political philosophers than I. However, some factual clarifications are in order:

1. Mexico City is definitely not a state; it continues to be a federal district, although its legal prerogatives with respect to the federal government have been broadly expanded in the past five years or so--including direct election of its mayor ("jefe de gobierno", not "gobernador") for the first time in 1997. Still, the federal congress is responsible for approving the basic statutes that govern the D.F.

2. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all qualified for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and were seeded in separate groups. In the qualifying stage prior to the 1950 World Cup, however, the UK countries were in the same group, effectively assuring that at least two wouldn't go. England was the only one to attend, since the Scotch side--despite having qualified--had said it would only go if it finished first in the group. (England was eliminated from the Cup by the United States.) Scotland has only recently created its own parliament, but was able to compete as a separate country in international events long before that--further complicating considerations on statehood.

3. The Mexican reaction to its defeat at the hands of archrival United States was characterized by nashing of teeth and rending of garments. According a poll taken by the Mexico City daily Reforma, 23% of Mexicans attributed the loss to the coach of the national side; 19%, to the players; and only 4%, to good play on the U.S. side. Asked which was more painful, not making quarter finals or losing to the U.S., a whopping 82% responded the latter. In Reforma's readers' opinions section, many thought that the Mexican national side had been bought off. A sampling of opinion: "Was it coincidence that Fox and Bush spoke to 'wish each other luck' just before the game began?" "Mexico was sold like Texas." "Mexico is a country of sellouts [vendepatrias]. First Santa Anna, now Fox and Aguirre [the national team's coach]." And my favorite: "First they took half of the national territory, now this. What will they take next, the Virgin of Guadalupe?" Fortunately, there were quite a few more level-headed views: "This is not a national tragedy. Tonight, a tear. Tomorrow, off to work."