Mexico overcame Brazil to be crowned Olympic champions in 2012 and have a good track record of getting beyond the World Cup group phase, although their last quarter-final appearance came in 1986.
Monday 9 June 2014 17:17, UK
Mexico know what it takes to overcome Brazil having defeated the World Cup hosts in the 2012 Olympic final and will be out to upset the odds once again.
Despite their unexpected 2-1 triumph at Wembley two years ago, Mexico made hard work of their qualification for the summer showpiece, struggling through their campaign and needing to overcome New Zealand in the intercontinental play-off.
Three different managers have been at the helm since September 2013, with Jose Manuel de la Torre replaced briefly by Victor Manuel Vucetich before Miguel Herrera took charge. Mexico are appearing at their 15th World Cup finals and have emerged from the group stage but failed to reach the quarter-finals in the last five.
Mexico’s Group A fixtures
1. Friday June 13: Mexico vs Cameroon – Natal (17.00)
2. Tuesday June 17: Brazil vs Mexico – Fortaleza (20.00)
3. Monday June 23: Croatia vs Mexico - Recife (21.00)
Coach: Miguel Herrera
Miguel Herrera was only appointed ahead of the play-off with New Zealand but galvanised the side to secure an emphatic 9-3 aggregate victory with a squad selected only from home-based players. The former Mexico international inherited the reins of the national side after securing the Mexican league title with Club America.
Star man: Oribe Peralta
While Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez may be the most well-known member of Mexico’s squad, it was the goals of Oribe Peralta which fired the nation to Olympic glory and through their World Cup play-off with New Zealand. The 24-year-old, who plays for Santos Laguna in his homeland, scored twice in the Wembley triumph against Brazil and then ran riot against the All Whites, with two goals in the first game and then a 19-minute hat-trick in the first half of the second leg.
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 1970, 1986
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca).
Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Leon), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Paul Aguilar (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Francisco 'Maza' Rodriguez (America), Miguel Layun (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Juan Carlos Medina (America), Hector Herrera (Porto), Carlos Pena (Leon), Luis Montes (Leon), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca).
Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos Laguna), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal).
British based players: Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
Sky Bet odds: 125/1
A poor qualifying campaign, where they needed to beat New Zealand in a play-off after finishing fourth behind Costa Rica and Honduras in the CONCACAF group, has tempered expectations significantly. Despite their toils, Miguel Herrera’s men are considered second favourites to qualify for the knockout stages at 11/10 and 8/1 to win Group A. Much hope will lay with Javier Hernandez despite a season on the periphery at Manchester United, with the 25-year-old considered their main attacking threat at 125/1 to be the tournament’s top scorer.
