World Cup Team Checks: Mexico
March 18, 2006
World Cup Qualifiers
A total of 67 goals in 18 games brought the Mexican team through qualifying with more goals than any other team and secured second place in the CONCACAF Zone behind the United States.
Stars
Jared Borgetti is one of Mexico's stars and, finding the back of the net 14 times, he was their top scorer during qualification for Germany 2006. Carlos Salcido and Francisco Fonseca, two of the team's youngsters will also bear the burden of high expectations this summer.
Trainer
Mexico's Argentinean coach Ricardo Lavolpe proved that his somewhat eccentric training methods can bring results, he did manage Mexico into fourth place in last year's Confederations Cup.
World Cup History
Mexico is making their 13th trip to the World Cup finals.
1930: preliminary, 1950: preliminary, 1954: preliminary, 1958: preliminary, 1962: preliminary, 1966: preliminary, 1970: quarter-finals, 1978: preliminary, 1986: quarter-finals, 1994: round of 16, 1998: round of 16, 2002: round of 16
Match Schedule: Preliminary Round
June 11: Mexico - Iran in Nuremberg
June 16: Mexico - Angola in Hanover
June 21: Portugal - Mexico in Gelsenkirchen
World Cup Base
Mexico will be making Lower Saxony's Göttingen their home base during the World Cup.
Outlook
Even with their 13 World Cup appearances, the Mexicans have yet to make it past the quarter-finals. When the country hosted the Cup in 1970 and 1986 the team moved into the second round, and that will most likely be their goal this time around as well.