French press up ante against Mexico

The French newspaper L'Equipe labelled the Mexican team "Green Rats" in an article this week. It follows hot on the heels of another French press article which slammed Mexico as a team that always wants to be considered a powerful team but always fails.

"The Mexican Football Federation announced that the 'Green Rats,' will be playing a tournament with three other teams to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Independence of the country," reads the article.

Les Bleus confront el Tri in their second World Cup game on June 17, with the comments sure to rile Mexico and its media.

The phrase 'Green Rats' does have a history. During the 1966 World Cup in England, journalist Manuel Seyde wrote that the Mexican team looked like green rats, that ran around without a clue.

At the start of the week, French journalist Poyetán Le Blanch published an article entitled, "Mexico, the myth of a country that pretends to a Great."

Watch this space for the reaction of the Mexican press and, coming soon, an analysis of how Mexico will do in South Africa.