Mexico World Cup Preview

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F FRANCISCO PALENCIA Q&A What are your earliest memories of the World Cup? I remember Manuel Negrete scoring for Mexico with a bicycle- kick when we beat Bulgaria in the second round in the Azteca stadium in 1986. Who should we look out for? Rafael Marquez will make an impression because he's young but playing at a high level in Europe. He will be keen to do well in his first World Cup. What stage do people back home expect you to reach? I'm sure they will be happy if we improve on the 13th place we obtained in France four years ago. If you don't win the World Cup, who will? One of the usual teams. Italy and Germany must have a good chance. Is there too much money in football? In Mexico, players are certainly paid well, receiving some of the top salaries in Latin America. That's why a Mexican player rarely joins a club based abroad. But with the television money, soccer also makes the networks a lot of money.

How they line up

Coach Javier Aguirre already has a clear idea of which players he will take, and which tactics he will use. He prefers a 3-5-2 formation.

Oscar Perez is the first-choice goalkeeper, an intelligent, mature player who is reaching the peak of his career. Oswaldo Sanchez was the No 2 for most of the qualifying campaign, though he now faces competition from the veteran Jorge Campos -- he of the colorful shirts and goalscoring tendencies -- who has surprisingly been recalled at 35.

In the back line, the central spot is most likely to be taken by Manuel Vidrio, with Melvin Brown and Alberto Rodriguez either side. The talented Rafael Marquez can play anywhere in the back line, but in the likely absence of the injured Claudio Suarez, he will sweep just in front of the back three. Francisco Gabriel de Anda, who appeared as a substitute against Bulgaria and scored the decisive goal, and Salvador Carmona are reliable replacements, as is the veteran Sigifredo Mercado.

In midfield, Alberto Garcia Aspe is the key man, despite his advancing years (35 on May 11). He will work in tandem with the Argentina-born workhorse Gabriel Caballero and the left-footed Rafael Garcia. Gerardo Torrado, the great new hope of Mexican soccer, is an exciting attacking option in midfield and is likely to start in the absence of the suspended Jesus Arellano. Braulio Luna and Johan Rodriguez offer alternative options on the left, while Ramon Morales and German Villa are other midfield alternatives open to the coach.

In attack, Francisco Palencia is likely to partner Cuauhtemoc Blanco, after both had good seasons in Spain. Jared Borgetti is a talented alternative, a highly skilled striker, especially with his head. Aguirre could field all three in his starting lineup, with Palencia dropping back into midfield. The veteran Luis Hernandez, a key figure for Mexico four years ago, is also back in contention.

From World Soccer magazine.

 

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