Mexico 0 - 0 Ecuador

Mexico kicked off the final stretch of friendlies in preparation for the World Cup with a bore draw against Ecuador with both sides shorn of their European-based players.

Mexico had the best chances, but the game leaves more questions than answers as to the line-up come June 11 in the opening game in South Africa against the host nation.

In line with Javier Aguirre's policy of rotating goalkeepers, Luis Michel of the Guadalajara Chivas got his turn and performed competently. Michel still remains an outside bet of getting the no.1 jersey bit is probably reliant on Guillermo Ochoa continuing his poor form.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Manchester United new boy Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez started upfront and largely failed to inspire. The duo are currently favourites to start against South Africa but have not played together much and the lack of cohesion showed.

Chicharito was guilty of missing a sitter in the seventh minute from the edge of the box with the Ecuadorian goalkeeper stranded.

With the infusion of quality when European-based players join the squad later in the month, Aguirre will be hoping for a marked improvement.

Performances like this in South Africa and Mexico won't be going far. The real winner was the Mexican Football Federation, raking in the profits of another sold out stadium in the United States.

Team: Luis Michel, Paul Aguilar, Efrain Juarez, Jonny Magallon, Jorge Torres, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Gerardo Torrado, Israel Castro (Andres Guardado, 75), Alberto Medina (Pablo Barrera, 61), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Adolfo Bautista, 61), Javier Hernandez.

How far will Mexico go?

A few days ago Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said he has the best generation of Mexican players ever and that the team is ready to make history in South Africa.

Therefore, before the friendlies begin in earnest this Saturday against Ecuador, it's about time to give a realistic rundown of Mexico's chances this June ... because they'll need to do something special to still be in South Africa come July.

If you believe the press here and some of what the players are coming out with, Mexico can go a long way.

The reality, however, is somewhat harsher.

Mexico are a well organized team (and they should be considering how often they play) with limited individual talent. The best players such as Rafa Marquez, the veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Andres Guardado and Manchester United’s new signing Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez simply don’t cut it if you compare them with the top players for the teams that could challenge for the World Cup: Spain, Brazil, Argentina, England, Holland.

Mexico’s dilemma: against average or poor teams they have a good chance, but when they come up against one of the top teams, their lack of true quality will show.

Based on that analysis, they should get out of Group A. South Africa are poor and unless they can really raise their game at home, Mexico should beat them. Mexico’s following game against France could be more complicated and all depends on which France team shows up. If France play like they did against Ireland and like they did in qualifying, there’s no reason why Mexico can’t sneak a draw or better. The final group game against Uruguay could go either way; it could also be the elimination match for who goes through to the round of 16.

Fast forward to the next round and it all depends if Mexico are facing Argentina (Group B) or not. It’ll be crying in the tequila time if it is the disliked Argentines.
If el Tri play one of the other three teams from Group B, Mexico has a decent chance of progressing to the Quarter Finals, where they will surely trip up against one of the favourites.

Provisional squad announced

The 27-man squad that will be whittled down to 23 before the World Cup has been announced by Mexico boss Javier Aguirre.

The Europe based players called up are as follows: Rafael Márzquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio ( Stuttgart), Francisco Javier Rodríguez (PSV Eindhoven), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Héctor Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña), Guillermo Franco (West Ham United),Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray).

The major absence is Nery Castillo who was working with a personal trainer in a bid to get the nod (see past post below). The Euro-Mexicans will have a week's break after domestic seasons finish before joining the rest of the squad in time for the May 16 game against Chile in the Azteca stadium in Mexico City.

They join the Mexico-based players who have been training together since April 12, leaving many club sides without key players as the domestic season reaches its climax:
Guillermo Ochoa (América) , Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara Chivas), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca) , Efraín Juárez (UNAM), Jonny Magallón ( Guadalajara Chivas), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (América) , Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul) , Israel Castro (UNAM Pumas), Adrián Aldrete (Morelia) , Pablo Barrera (UNAM Pumas), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara Chivas), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Veracruz), Alberto Medina and Javier Hernández (Guadalajara Chivas).

The squad will be cut to 23 players before the team travels to South Africa.

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.