Team profile: Mexico

1.2205782-571662158 — Javier Hernandez Image Credit: Reuters

Coach : Juan Carlos Osorio
Star player: Javier Hernandez
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 1970, 1986

Amazingly, the coach has deployed a different line-up in every one of his 44 matches in charge, leading some players to query his tinkering ways. “It’s time to stop with the experiments,” goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said. “We have to focus on how we play as a team.”

Mexico topped the Concacaf qualifying table with six wins from 10 games, but recent humiliations to Chile (7-0), Germany (4-1) and a 1-0 loss to Jamaica still rankle.

Some may find it surprising that Mexico have failed to progress past the round of 16 in the World Cup in the past six editions of the tournament and their best achievement is twice making it to the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986 — both times when they were hosting the event.

Goalkeeper Ochoa is a veteran of the team with 92 caps in a 13-year international career, however, the 32-year-old Standard Liege stopper is facing stiff competition for the gloves from Jesus Corona and Alfredo Talavera, both of whom are, bizarrely, older than Ochoa.

At the back, Hector Moreno is as solid as they come and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet for Osorio. Who plays alongside him is up for debate, with Nestor Araujo and Carlos Salcedo struggling with injury. Young apprentices Oswaldo Alanis, Hugo Ayala and Edson Alvarez may have to make a big step up.

PSV’s Hirving Lozano leads a strong midfield cast, with Carlos Vela and Jesus Corona fighting it out for the nod on the right.

Andres Guardado and Hector Herrera should form the central partnership.

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, now of West Ham United and formerly of Manchester United and Real Madrid, is the poster boy up front for Mexico, but Benfica’s Raul Jimenez is impressing this season, and Oribe Peralta is a third option.

Giovani Dos Santos, Marco Fabian and Rodolfo Pizarro could also come into the reckoning behind the main strikers.