Mexico
Rank: 19 World Cup appearances: Best result: Top SCORERS (QUALIFYING) Did you know? Czechoslovakia's Vaclav Masek's goal against Mexico in the 1962 finals, which was scored in 15 seconds, was the fastest ever goal scored in the World Cup finals, setting a record. |
Mexico head for their 15th World Cup looking to break the second round barrier on foreign soil for the first time although their poor qualifying campaign suggests the odds are heavily stacked against them.
The only times Mexico have reached the quarterfinals was when they hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986, the latter a 24-team tournament in which they were unbeaten in five matches, going out to Germany on penalties.
Coach Miguel Herrera, however, will travel to Brazil believing his team can spring a shock by reaching at least the quarterfinals and possibly even go further.
It is surprising that Mexico has failed to live up to expectations at the World Cup given the soccer-crazy country of 100 million has one of the richest domestic leagues in the world.
The national team, however, have failed to reach the last eight in the last five tournaments they have competed in since missing out altogether at Italia-1990, the last time they failed to compete.
Their path to Brazil was one of the poorest of their rich history as they failed to take advantage of the seething cauldron of their Azteca stadium and lost three coaches in a six-week period.
Mexico finished fourth in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North and Central America and the Caribbean) qualifying final round, behind automatic qualifiers the United States, Costa Rica and Honduras, earning a place in the intercontinental playoff with New Zealand -- and only after the U.S. had recorded a last gasp win over Panama on the final match day.
STRENGTH
Midfield depth
Mexico's midfield looks strong, both in talent and in depth, with Carlos Pena and Luis Montes in particular looking fantastic during the latter stages of qualifying. Should Chicharito regain form and Carlos Vela be welcomed back into the fold, that will serve up some serious options for the forward line.
WEAKNESS
Lack of experience
Herrera's flying full-backs are potent offensive weapons, but they do, in turn, place strain on the central defensive trio. Francisco Rodriguez is aging and slow, Rafa Marquez is already 34 and Juan Carlos Valenzuela does not have much experience at the international level.
ONE TO WATCH
Javier Hernandez
Javier Hernandez getting back among the goals at Manchester United after a bit-part role this season would come as a welcome relief to Mexico coach Miguel Herrera ahead of the World Cup in Brazil, after finding firepower a big problem in qualifying.
Yet his importance to Mexico has been underlined by assurances from Herrera, the national side's fourth coach since September, who told Reuters in March the frontman's World Cup prospects remained unharmed despite his spell in the shadows at Old Trafford.
His pace and excellent silky moves inside the box will make him a threat in Brazil.
With Mexico having managed only seven goals in two wins from 10 games in qualifying, before arriving via a playoff win over New Zealand, it is likely Hernandez's tally will need to be stretched if Mexico are to navigate their way through a tricky Group A.
Hernandez is the third generation from his family to represent Mexico as his grandfather Tomas Balcazar and father Javier (nicknamed 'Chicharo', meaning pea, because of his green eyes) both donned the national shirt in their heydays.
Coach: Miguel Herrera
Miguel Herrera, a compact man who punches above his weight, fell into the job of taking Mexico to the World Cup finals after three predecessors departed in quick succession last year.
Nicknamed "El Piojo" (The Louse) partly because of his short stature, Herrera will attempt to repeat with the national team the feat he achieved with America, the big Mexico City team owned by media giant Televisa.
He arrived there in 2012 charged with pulling them out of a crisis.
Last season's Clausura victory gave America a record-equalling 11th league title in the professional era and their first since 2005, a long time for a major club in Latin America.
Mexico are looking to at least equal their best World Cup achievements which was reaching the quarterfinals of the two events they host in 1970 and 1986.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon)
Midfielders: Juan Carlos Medina (America), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Luis Montes (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon)
Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres)
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