Teams | Mexico

Mexico have often threatened to make a significant impact on the World Cup, only to bow out when the going gets tough.

The Mexicans have fallen in the second round at the last three finals, losing on penalties to Bulgaria in 1994, going out 2-1 to Germany after leading 1-0 in 1998 and succumbing to neighbours the United States with an inept display last time around.

This time, however, the Mexicans appear ready for anyone -- provided they do not speak English.

Coach Ricardo La Volpe, despite a gruff personality, a unique dress sense and controversy over the selection of naturalised pair Guillermo Franco and Antonio "Zinha" Naelson, has rejuvenated the team and produced competitive wins over Brazil and Argentina in the last two years.

YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE

Their progress through CONCACAF'S tortuous qualifying tournament was relatively painless, marred only by defeats against the U.S. and Trinidad & Tobago late in the campaign which suggested a possible weakness against physically tough or Anglophone opponents.

La Volpe proudly says that, whereas Mexican players used to make their debuts only in their late 20s, his side have several players who are much younger and are already seasoned internationals.

Midfielder Gonzalo Pineda had not even played a first-division game before La Volpe sent him out to face Iceland in 2003 while players such as Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido and Luis Perez have also come of age.

All are now regulars in a squad which contains only six survivors from 2002.

HARD WORK

La Volpe adds that Mexico have a base of around 30 players who can compete at international level, no longer depending on one or two individuals such as they did in 2002 when everything revolved around the volatile Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Blanco himself has been omitted by La Volpe after refusing to take part in last year's Confederations Cup because he said he was tired.

"We have managed to make young players shine. Nobody knew them before and, now, everyone's talking about them," said La Volpe. "It hasn't been easy, it's been three years of hard work."

Mexico played some high-quality football during last year's Confederations Cup in Germany, even if their tournament was marred by the dismissal of two players for drug-related offences.

Although it is impossible to see Mexico making the later stages of the competition, they do have the potential to make life difficult for their opponents. In Group D they face Iran, Angola and Portugal.

Recent performances suggest Mexico could finally equal their previous best of reaching the quarter-finals in the two tournaments they hosted in 1970 and 1986.

If they did that, then La Volpe would probably admit the World Cup had been a reasonably successful one in terms of Mexican expectations.

Reuters
May 25, 2006