More to Blanco than bunny jumps

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CHONJU, South Korea (Reuters) -- Mexican forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco is famous for his "bunny jumps" but there is nothing cute or cuddly about him.

Raised in one of Mexico City's most violent neighborhoods and named after the last of the Aztec warrior emperors, Blanco has a volcanic temper.

He almost boycotted the World Cup due to a spat with the Mexican Football Federation over plane tickets. Blanco complained that when the federation flew him back from Spain for a qualifying match, they put him on a flight with too many stopovers.

Only the intervention of coach Javier Aguirre persuaded the 29-year-old to change his mind.

Blanco will not have to worry about long flights home from Spain next season after quitting Spanish club Valladolid in May complaining about his treatment there.

Where he will play next will depend on his remaining performances in this World Cup, but he has been linked to a move back to Mexico City club America, where he started his career.

The Mexicans have always forgiven Blanco his outbursts because they know how much they need him.

He is best known for his trademark bunny hops, dubbed "Cuauhteminas," which involve him jumping through a gap between two opponents while clasping the ball between his ankles.

BRUTAL TACKLE

Blanco scored no fewer than nine of Mexico's 16 goals in the World Cup qualifiers despite only starting four games and coming on as a substitute in another three.

He missed the middle part of the campaign when he was sidelined for eight months with torn cruciate knee ligaments following a brutal tackle by Trinidad's Ancil Elcock in a preliminary round game.

Elcock reportedly received death threats from livid Mexicans for months afterwards.

In Blanco's absence, Mexico suffered an alarming slump in form.

But he returned to save the side, coming on at halftime to score both goals in a 2-1 defeat of Jamaica after Mexico went 1-0 down and were teetering on the brink of elimination.

He then scored two goals and set up the third in Mexico's 3-0 win over Honduras, which clinched the team's place at the finals.

Blanco announced his arrival at the 2002 World Cup by winning and scoring his side's penalty in its 1-0 win over Croatia in their first match.

It was his 17th goal in his 76th international appearance.

He also set up Mexico's goal in its final game against Italy, telling reporters after the match the Italians were "lucky" to have made it to the second round.

Blanco's hunched shoulders and distinctive gait have earned him the nickname "the camel" in Mexico, but he makes up for an apparent lack of natural athleticism with an admirable work rate, excellent vision and a powerful shot.

Against the United States on Monday, Blanco, who has confidently asserted his team can make it to at least the semifinals of the World Cup, has a chance to show there is more to his game than crowd-pleasing party tricks.

Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.