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Mexico World Cup 2018 profile: Ones to watch, best bets and more
Mexico always seem to be in the World Cup but are almost always guaranteed an early exit, can they go further this year?
Mexico Factfile
- FIFA World Ranking: 15
- Sky Bet outright winner odds: 100/1
- Best Bet: Carlos Vela Mexico top scorer 6/1
- World Cup appearances: 15
- Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (1970/1986)
- Nickname: El Tricolor
Coach - Juan Carlos Osorio: In charge since 2015, Osorio is a fiery character and was banned for seven games last year by FIFA for his angry outburst towards the match officials. Expect it to be lively on the bench in Russia.
Legend - Hugo Sanchez: Rafael Marquez is set to appear in a remarkable fifth World Cup but it's prolific striker and overhead kick expert Sanchez who gets the nod. He was top scorer four years in a row in Spain while at Real Madrid, where he won five straight titles as one of the most feared strikers in the world.
Star Man - Javier Hernandez: He's not been able to hit his stride at West Ham but Chicharito averages about a goal every other game for his country so will again be their main hope for goals in Russia, although Carlos Vela is a dangerous option.
Did you know? No nation has appeared more times in the World Cup without lifting the trophy than Mexico - Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina all have more appearances. Mexico have just one knockout round win to their name, on home soil in 1986 against Bulgaria, and also hold the record for the most second round defeats.
Fun fact: Mexico were banned from competing in Italia 90 after being found guilty of playing under age players at the 1988 Olympics which was supposed to be a youth event.
Qualifying: Mexico secured automatic qualification to the World Cup finals after winning their CONCACAF group having lost just once.
Fixtures: Germany (4pm, June 17, Moscow), South Korea (4pm, June 23, Rostov-On-Don), Sweden (3pm, June 27, Ekaterinburg)
Mexico squad
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul).
Defenders: Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Edson Alvarez (America), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Miguel Layun (Sevilla).
Midfielders: Rafael Marquez (Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Forwards: Javier Hernandez (West Ham), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (America), Jesus Manuel Corona (Porto), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven).
Mexico profile
They've threatened to get involved with the real big boys of international football at times - having climbed up to fourth in the FIFA World Rankings on two occasions (1998 & 2006).
They're 5/1 to top Group F but it looks a huge task given that defending world champions Germany are lurking in their group - they do play them first up though so will hope to catch them cold.
Their manager Juan Carlos Osorio has been in charge since 2015. He was banned in 2017 for seven games for what FIFA described as Osorio “using insulting words towards the match officials while displaying an aggressive attitude towards them”.
The current manager has a 66.67% win record from 45 matches, winning 30, drawing eight and losing seven.
Who to watch out for
West Ham’s Javier Hernandez is Mexico’s household name and will be expected to provide the goals to help secure their qualification from the group stages.
Ex-Tottenham attacker Giovani Dos Santos will provide creativity and the ability to infiltrate defences.
Guillermo Ochoa’s 2014 heroics were a highlight of the tournament, and the Standard Liege goalkeeper will no doubt be aiming to replicate those kind of performances this summer.
How did they qualify?
Mexico won their CONCACAF group having lost just once. They beat the USA 2-1 with a late Rafa Marquez goal and that was a real marker given they had previously lost four times in a row in Columbus, Ohio.
A 2-0 win over Costa Rica put Mexico top, where they'd stay for the rest of the campaign as a 1-0 win over Panama saw them qualify with three games still to play.
Any interesting facts about Mexico?
Mexico have hosted the World Cup twice in their history in 1970 and in 1986. They achieved their best ever finishes in these tournaments after reaching the quarter-finals in each.
Mexico’s population is estimated at over 125,000,000, making it the 10th most populous country in the world, while the capital Mexico City has a population of over 20 million.
Mexico is home to the one of the largest pyramids in the world, the Great Pyramid of Cholula. The monument stands at around 66 metres tall and covers 1.8 million squared metres.
The Chichen Itza Pyramid was in fact one of the monuments that was named to the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Any famous football moments?
Mexico have won the CONCACAF Championship/Gold Cup in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2015. They also won the Confederations Cup in 1999.