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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Jorge Campos
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(UNAM Pumas), age 31, 100 caps.
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Probably
Mexico's best-known player, having helped them to the second
round during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He is
short but has great athleticism and likes to play out of his
penalty area. Position under threat after being left out of some
recent. Usually wears revoltingly bright colours.
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Oswaldo Sanchez
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(America), 26, 10 caps.
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Younger than Campos
and bigger, but had a poor Confederations' Cup last December.
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Oscar Perez
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(Cruz Azul), 21 (22 on May 3), 6 caps.
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Like
Campos he lacks height but is very athletic and helped his
club to last year's Mexican title.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Pavel Pardo
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(Atlas), 21 (22 on July 5), 36 caps.
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Was
ever-present in qualifying, indicative of his consistency. Has
good pace and makes great recovery tackles.
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Salvador Carmona
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(Toluca), 23, 11 caps.
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Solid defender who
may make the squad as part of coach Manual Lapuente's policy of
rejuvenating the side.
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Isaac Terrazas
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(America), 23, 5 caps.
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Lacks pace, prefers to
play in the right-back position.
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Claudio Suarez
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(Guadalajara) 29, 107 caps.
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The most-capped
player in the squad and a defensive rock. Can move into midfield
to protect the backline. Tested positive for doping in 1997
Confederations' Cup, but wasn't suspended for 'administrative'
errors in the testing procedure.
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Duilio Davino
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(America), 22, 37 caps.
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Played in all the
qualifiers and links well with Suarez in the centre of defence.
Shows good leadership qualities and is likely to be a fixture in
the side for years to come.
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David Oteo
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(UNAM Pumas), 25, 1 cap.
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Has spent more time
injured than playing over the past two years. His selection has
been criticised by the Mexican media.
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Joel Sanchez
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(Guadalajara), 24, 11 caps.
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Another of
Lapuente's younger favourites.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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German Villa
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(America) 25, 28 caps.
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Abrasive tackler who has
failed to hold down a regular place.
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Ramon Ramirez
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(Guadalajara) 28, 86 caps.
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Played in 1994
World Cup. Quick off the mark and with neat skills, he will be
Mexico's key midfielder in France. Has a powerful shot and is
not afraid to stick his boot in.
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Jaime Ordiales
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(Toluca) 35, 15 caps.
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Has great experience
having played for many seasons in the Mexican league. His
international chances have been few and far between.
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Marcelino Bernal
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(Monterrey), 35 (36 on May 27), 66 caps.
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Another veteran of USA 94, he possesses a dangerous shot. As a
senior squad member his role in helping the younger players
cope.
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Braulio Luna
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(UNAM Pumas) 24, 8 caps.
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Has not impressed this
season for his club but has found himself in Lapuente's plans.
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Jesus Arellano
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(Guadalajara), 26, 0 caps.
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Untested and largely unknown.
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Alberto Garcia Aspe
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(America) 30 (31 on May 11), 75 caps.
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Along with Bernal, a free-kick specialist. A right-sided
midfielder who works hard and should start.
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Paulo Cesar Chavez
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(Guadalajara) 23, 3 caps.
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Another of Lapunente's new generation.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Luis Garcia
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(Atlante), 28 (29 on June 1), 74 caps.
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One of
the permanent fixtures in the Mexican team. Played during World
Cup in 1994. Has quick feet and a good eye for goal.
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Luis Hernandez
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(Necaxa) 29, 38 caps.
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Blond-haired goalscorer
known as 'Matador' for his killer instinct on the pitch.
Mexico are pinning their hopes on him to provide the goals in
France. Briefly with Boca Juniors in Argentina.
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Ricardo Pelaez
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(America), 35, 35 caps.
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A brilliant header of
the ball, he is dangerous from set-pieces. Shooting accurately
has never been his strong point, however.
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Cuauhtemoc Blanco
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(Necaxa), 25, 35 caps.
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Does most of his
best works outside the area, where his ball skills can be best
exploited. Often fails to deliver the final ball, but has an
excellent scoring record.
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Francisco Palencia
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(Cruz Azul), 25, 18 caps.
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Very fast and
likes to shoot from distance, if a little wildly at times.
Causes problems for opposing defenders with his imaginative play
and shows good commitment.
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Carlos Hermosillo
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(Cruz Azul), 33, 89 caps.
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The leading
scorer in qualifying who has apparently been discarded by
Lapuente. His absence will be strongly felt if he doesn't make
the trip to France. Vastly experienced, he played in the 1986
finals.
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