Mexico
Mexico go into World Cup with fortunes reversed by new coach Aguirre.
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| Mexico ended a run of two warmup losses with a rout of Gambia [EPA] |
Since taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson last year, Javier Aguirre has turned around Mexico’s fortunes to qualify for their fifth World Cup in a row.
Having struggled under the Swede, Mexico shot from fifth to second behind the United States in the Concacaf zone, and bring an exciting and youthful team to the finals.
Led by Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez, 17th-ranked Mexico will be confident of kicking off their bid for a first quarter-finals appearance since 1986 with a win against the hosts.
Goalkeepers:
Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara), Oscar Perez (Chiapas).
| Group A fixtures |
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Friday June 11
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South Africa v Mexico Defenders:
Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas).
Midfielders:
Andres Guardado (Deportivo Coruna), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM).
Forwards:
Guillermo Franco (West Ham United), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur), Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista, Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United).