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Mexico: the holders are banking on experience

Mexico's Ignacio Hierro Gonzales (6) battles Canada's Paul Peschisolido for a header during first half action of their Gold Cup soccer match February 20 in San Diego.
Photo: JT Lovette, Reuters
There is something slightly strange in not being able to welcome Mexico's national team to the FIFA Confederations Cup as CONCACAF Champions. They are, however, the Cup holders, having won the trophy on home soil in 1999. "El Tri", as the team is popularly called with reference to the country's tricolour, played out a sovereign tournament, which culminated in a frenetic and much celebrated 4-3 win over Brazil in front of a sell-out crowd in the Aztec Stadium. Yet coach Manuel Lapuente was unable to keep the momentum going the following year, losing a number of friendlies, including one against the USA at the prestigious U.S. Cup, and eventually resigned at the beginning of September, four days after a 7-1 victory over Panama in the World Cup qualifiers. His successor Enrique Meza immediately confirmed the improvement in return in the next competitive game against Trinidad & Tobago when his side hit another seven goals.

Mexico striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco (C) drives the ball between Trinidad & Tobago defenders Dennis Lawrence (L) and Stokely Mason during the CONCACAF qualifying soccer match for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, July 23.
Photo: Heriberto Rodriguez, Reuters
Mexican goal-keeper Jorge Campos stops the ball during a practice session in San Antonio de Belen July 11.
Photo: Juan Carlos Ulate, Reuters
The team may appear a little moody at times, but thanks to their first-class technique and lightning-fast attacking movements they are capable of beating anyone on their day. The current side has changed little in recent years, which should not be taken to mean that younger players are not being involved. Defender Rafael Marquez of AS Monaco is a shining example of the strength of Mexico's youngsters and also the exception that proves the rule: almost all the Mexican team play their football in the Mexican league, which relieves the coach of the worries that plague his European and South American colleagues and is evident in the large number of games the Mexicans play across the globe.

The backbone of the team and extended arm of the coach is the 33-year-old defender Claudio Suarez, who with around 150 caps is the most experienced player anywhere in the world. In Jorge Campos he is ably backed by a modern-style goalkeeper who stands out not simply because of his brightly coloured kit and occasional forays upfield. Campos has made well over 100 international appearances, as has Ramón Ramirez, and there cannot be many teams able to fall back on a trio with a total of 400 caps between them. In attack Mexico mostly go with the class pairing of Luis Hernandez, he of blonde locks fame, and the lightning-quick Cuauthemoc Blance.


Pos   Popular Name   Shirt Name Club D.O.B.
[ 1]   GK   SANCHEZ Oswaldo   SANCHEZ   Guadalajara 21-Sep-73
[ 2]   DF   SUAREZ Claudio   SUAREZ   Tigres 17-Dec-68
[ 3]   DF   BELTRAN Joaquin   BELTRAN   Pumas UNAM 29-Apr-77
[ 4]   DF   OTEO David   OTEO   Tigres 27-Jul-73
[ 5]   DF   DAVINO Duilio   DAVINO   America 21-Mar-76
[ 6]   MF   RUIZ Marco Antonio   M. A. RUIZ   Guadalajara 12-Jul-69
[ 7]   MF   RANGEL David   RANGEL   Toluca 12-Nov-69
[ 8]   MF   RODRIGUEZ Juan Pablo   RODRIGUEZ   Atlas 07-Aug-79
[ 9]   FW   ABUNDIS Jose Manuel   ABUNDIS   Atlante 11-Jun-73
[10]   FW   BORGETTI Jared   BORGETTI   Santos Laguna 14-Aug-73
[11]   FW   OSORNO Daniel   OSORNO   Atlas 16-Mar-79
[12]   GK   CABUTO Erubey   CABUTO   Atlas 06-Sep-75
[13]   DF   PARDO Pavel   PARDO   America 26-Jul-76
[14]   MF   VILLA German   VILLA   America 02-Apr-73
[15]   FW   DE NIGRIS Antonio   A. DE NIGRIS   Monterrey 01-Apr-78
[16]   MF   COYOTE Alberto   COYOTE   Guadalajara 26-Mar-67
[17]   DF   VALDEZ Octavio   VALDEZ   Pachuca 07-Dec-73
[18]   MF   VICTORINO Cesareo   VICTORINO   Pachuca 19-Mar-79
[19]   MF   REYES Joaquin   REYES   Santos Laguna 20-Feb-78
[20]   MF   RUIZ Victor   V. RUIZ   Toluca 07-Jun-69
[21]   MF   PEREZ Luis   L. PEREZ   Necaxa 12-Jan-81
[22]   DF   CHAVEZ Hugo   CHAVEZ   Atletico Morelia 16-Oct-76
[23]   GK   DAUTT Oscar   DAUTT   Puebla 08-Jun-76
GROUP A
Team P W D L GF:GA PTS.
 x-France 3 2 0 1 9:1 6
 x-Australia 3 2 0 1 3:1 6
 Korea Republic 3 2 0 1 3:6 6
 Mexico 3 0 0 3 1:8 0
30-05-01   [2] Suwon, Korea 19:30 Mexico vs. Australia 0:2 (0:1) TANGAWARIMA Felix, ZIM
01-06-01   [6] Ulsan, Korea 19:30 Korea Republic vs. Mexico 2:1 (0:0) DALLAS Hugh, SCO
03-06-01   [9] Ulsan, Korea 19:30 France vs. Mexico 4:0 (1:0) BUJSAIM Ali Mohamed, UAE

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