Mexico World Cup Profile

Javier Aguirre performed something of a rescue act after taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson as he got the Mexico World Cup show back on the road.

Prior to the former Atletico Madrid coach returning for a second spell, Mexico had won just one of six matches. After an initial defeat to El Salvador, Aguirre steered his country to five straight wins and an automatic qualification that looked highly unlikely at one stage. If ever there was an example of the impact of a coach on soccer, this was it.

Many defended Eriksson by claiming that he had a weak team compared to recent years, but El Vasco (The Basque) showed that there was more than enough talent in the ranks to qualify from the CONCACAF group.

In the likes of Deportivo La Coruna wide man Andres Guardado, experienced Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez and Arsenal hopeful Carlos Vela, Aquirre has a strong spine to the side and realistic hopes of qualification for the last-16.

Quick Facts:

• Best World Cup Result: Quarter-Finals (1970 and 1986)
• Best CONCACAF Championship Result: Winners (1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2009)
• Record Scorer: Jared Borgetti (46 goals)
• Most Capped Player: Claudio Suarez (178 caps between 1992 and 2006)
• Coach: Javier Aguirre
• Captain: Rafael Marquez

23-man Mexico World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Memo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas), Oscar Perez (Chiapas)

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmmar), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM)

Midfielders: Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna)

Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray/Tottenham), Guillermo Franco (West Ham), Carlos Vela (Arsenal)

Group Matches:

Friday, June 11, 2010 v South Africa
Thursday, June 17, 2010 v France
Tuesday, June 22, 2010, v Uruguay

Prediction: Second-Round

The Mexico World Cup group is fairly even, although France are expected to top it despite difficulties in qualifying. South Africa's fans will act as a 12th man and that may go some way towards papering over the cracks on the pitch, while Aguirre can expect a tight contest with Uruguay.

South Africa are the lowest ranked country ever to host a World Cup and look the weakest in the group. It is not unreasonable to think Mexico's tussle with Uruguay will be a second place decider and Aguirre's men have enough to get past the workmanlike South American country.

Argentina lie in wait in a possible second-round repeat of 2006 and Aguirre's men would surely come up short against Maradona and co. But if they play half as well as they did in the 2006 match, Mexico will give Argentina an uncomfortable 90 minutes in Johannesburg.

To find out more about the tournament, visit the World Cup section.