Manager: Miguel Herrera
Best finish: Quarter-finals (1970 and 1986)
World Cup record: Played 53, Won 14, Drawn 14, Lost 25
History
El Tri, it seems fair to say, like their home comforts, having reached the quarter-finals when hosting the tournament in both 1970 and 1986. Since then, they have bowed out in the second round in their last five appearances. Simply put, for the numbers available to them and the popularity of the sport, they are among the tournament’s great underachievers.
Whiteboard
Miguel Herrera, Mexico’s fourth manager since September, appears to favour a 5-3-2 formation with advanced wing backs, but he hasn’t had much opportunity to settle on a tactical blueprint given the fact he took over prior to the play-off wins over New Zealand. He has no fear of dropping big names, as he did when omitting all European-based players for the play-offs, but he has since welcomed them back.
All Star - Oribe Peralta
The 30-year-old Santos Laguna striker comes into the tournament having scored more than everyone bar Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez in the qualifiers, though five of his 10 came against New Zealand in a two-legged play-off. Manchester United's Chicharito and Giovanni dos Santos are two more recognisable faces but they may not even make the starting XI given the recent form of Peralta's young strike partner Alan Pulido.
County Colours - Limerick
Turf wars, open sores, banished bosses and bainisteoirs
Pundit's corner - Jimmy Magee: 'Me-hee-co! Boxers extraordinaire, but can they land a few blows on the dancing samba boys? Not likely!
Prospects
Herrera's whirlwind induction into international football management has gone well so far, and has not shied away from talking his team up, even to the point of suggesting they can win the whole thing. Their badly disjointed qualification campaign and their World Cup record suggests otherwise and a gambler would surely back the more settled Croatia to get second ahead of them behind Brazil in Group A.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: 1 Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), 12 Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), 13 Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio),
Defenders: 2 Francisco 'Maza' Rodriguez (America), 3 Carlos Salcido (Tigres), 4 Rafael Marquez (Leon), 5 Diego Reyes (Porto, Por), 7 Miguel Layun (America), 15 Hector Moreno (Espanyol, Esp), 16 Miguel Ponce (Toluca), 18 Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen, Ger), 22 Paul Aguilar (America).
Midfielders: 6 Hector Herrera (Porto, Por), 8 Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), 17 Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), 20 Javier Acquino (Villarreal, Esp), 21 Carlos Pena (Leon), 23 Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon).
Forwards: 9 Raul Jimenez (America), 10 Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal, Esp), 11 Alan Pulido (Tigres), 14 Javier Hernandez (Manchester United, Eng), 19 Oribe Peralta (Santos Laguna),
STARTING LINE-UPS
MEXICO (v Cameroon): 13 Guillermo Ochoa; 22 Paul Aguilar, 2 Francisco Rodriguez, 4 Rafael Marquez, 15 Hector Moreno (yc), 7 Miguel Layun; 6 Hector Herrera (3 Carlos Salcido, 89 mins), 23 Jose Juan Vazquez, 18 Andres Guardado (8 Marco Fabian, 69 mins); 10 Giovani dos Santos; 19 Oribe Peralta (14 Javier Hernandez, 74 mins).
MEXICO (v Brazil): 13 Guillermo Ochoa; 22 Paul Aguilar (yc), 2 Francisco Rodriguez, 4 Rafael Marquez, 15 Hector Moreno, 7 Miguel Layun; 6 Hector Herrera (8 Marco Fabian, 76 mins), 23 Jose Juan Vazquez (yc), 18 Andres Guardado; 10 Giovani dos Santos; 19 Oribe Peralta (14 Javier Hernandez, 74 mins).
MEXICO (v Croatia): 13 Guillermo Ochoa; 22 Paul Aguilar, 2 Francisco Rodriguez, 4 Rafael Marquez (yc), 15 Hector Moreno, 7 Miguel Layun; 6 Hector Herrera, 23 Jose Juan Vazquez (yc), 18 Andres Guardado (8 Marco Fabian, 84 mins); 10 Giovani dos Santos (14 Javier Hernandez, 62 mins), 19 Oribe Peralta (21 Carlos Pena, 79 mins).
Jose Juan Vazquez. will miss the round of 16 game against the Netherlands after picking up two yellow cards.
MEXICO (v Netherlands): 13 Guillermo Ochoa; 22 Paul Aguilar (yc), 2 Francisco Rodriguez, 4 Rafael Marquez (yc), 15 Hector Moreno (5 Diego Reyes, half-time), 7 Miguel Layun; 6 Hector Herrera, 3 Carlos Salcido, 18 Andres Guardado (yc); 10 Giovani dos Santos (20 Javier Acquino), 19 Oribe Peralta (14 Javier Hernandez, 75 mins).
