Aguirre must take some of the blame: Chicharito? Barrera?

With the press conferences yet to take place, on the surface it seems Mexico manager made selection errors that cost the team today.

That statement has to be put in the context that Javier Aguirre himself has said this is Mexico's best generation of young players in its history: Chicharito, Efrain Juarez, Andres Guardado, Pablo Barrera, Giovani Dos Santos, Hector Moreno, Carlos Vela, Guillermo Ochoa.

Only one of the above played 90 minutes against Uruguay.

Andres Guardado was inexplicably taken off at halftime after being at the forefront of most good things that came from Mexico in the first half; Chicharito started as sub and only got half an hour playing time; Barrera came on at halftime (for Guardado) and Moreno was taken off.

It hardly looks like Aguirre has faith in the young crop of players Mexico has.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez looked lively and broke the deadlock against France and Pablo Barrera played exceptionally well when he came on for Carlos Vela.

Playing 33-year-old Franco and 37-year-old Blanco upfront together hindered the team in the first half. The ball evaded Blanco as he struggled to keep pace with a fast and engaging first period. Franco held the ball up as usual but the lack of mobility upfront was blatant and the frustration tangible in Mexican supporters in one Guadalajara bar.

It will be a massive game against Argentina Sunday and perhaps Aguirre would be advised to go for youth in attempting to avoid the same old Mexican problem of raising the nation's expectations only to go out in the Round of 16.

Ferguson praises Chicharito

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told a New York radio station that he was impressed by Chicharito's performance against France.

"He did very well. He showed good movement, is quick and sees space very well. I was very pleased with his performance," said Ferguson.

As a legend of Mexican football, Chicharito's grandfather Tomas Balcazar said it was vital his grandson caught the eye of the United boss and use the World Cup as a springboard for his career in England.

He seems to be doing just that. Bring on Uruguay ...

Press round up 21/6/10: Starting lineup v Uruguay?

As usual before the day of a Mexico game, the papers are full of rumours about the starting eleven and especially the front line.

The clamour for Chicharito to start was intense before the France game and now it's reaching a crescendo, but the Mexican papers suggest he might well start the game on the bench again.

Cancha, to date the most reliable publication on the subject, says manager Javier Aguirre experimented with Guillermo Franco and Pablo Barrera together in attack during the final training session. The same paper then says Chicharito was given his turn with Alberto Medina, but then Aguirre reverted to Franco and Barrera at the end of the session.

If Mexico keep their 4-3-3 system, it seems that despite Vela's injury it will be a straight fight between Franco and Chicharito for the position at the head of the front three. Barrera is almost certain to start in place of Vela.

Behind them, Esto and other newspapers say Guardado will play on the left of a three man midfield instead of the suspended Efrain Juarez. The decision to start Juarez in the first place was a big surprise for most pundits but Juarez' form has been superb.

Guardado, currently with Deportivo de La Coruña, looks set to move on should a big enough bid come in. Martin O'Neill is reportedly a big fan, but the Mexican press reckon there are a horde of clubs after him from England, Spain and Holland. With his experience (read here) the pressure game against Uruguay shouldn't be a problem.

The Mexican press are generally confident about getting a victory against Uruguay but recognise the teams are quite evenly matched. Uruguay have never beaten Mexico in a competitive game however.

In other news, there's a lot of talk about how at least five of the Uruguayan squad have suffered some kind of rejection from the Mexican league. Sebastian Abreu, on the other hand, has been highly successful.

...And one last thing. Javier Aguirre's son, Iñaki, has been transferred to the Bolton Wanderers youth team squad. Aguirre confirmed that the family will be moving to the North West of England to accompany their youngest son. Who will also be nearby? New Manchester United signing Chicharito. Aguirre was actually coached by Chicharito's granddad and played with his father. The two families get along well according to Aguirre and now they'll be able to get used to the cold together.

Aguirre has a longstanding desire to manage a team in the Premier League.

Vela out, step up Mr. Pablo Barrera

Two days after coming on for injured Carlos Vela during the first half of Mexico's game against France, Pablo Barrera was being touted with a move to Manchester United, at least in the Mexican press.

While that particular rumour might be premature, it is certainly the case that the 23-year-old (it's his birthday today) Barrera caught a few eyes in his World Cup debut. It wouldn't be going too far to suggest that Mexico looked a more threatening team with him in place of Vela.

Almost certain to take the Arsenal player's place in the starting line-up against Uruguay on Tuesday, performances like that against France would indeed prick up the ears of some European clubs.

Extremely quick, good at taking defenders on and with an eye for goal, the Pumas UNAM right winger/forward made his debut in the Mexican league at just 18. Two years later, the boy from Tlalnepantla (pronounce that if you can), State of Mexico, was called into the national team.

His quick rise up the rungs of the Mexican footballing ladder (which includes a European move at the upper echelons) was put on hold when he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture and was forced out the game for six months in the summer of 2008.

After that, Barrera struggled to recapture his old form. Bit by bit however, he's reached his former heights. In the season just finished in Mexico, Barrera was superb for Pumas.

The videos (right) show some of his goals. They are well worth watching and include some golazos, or crackers, scored with both feet and his head.

Perhaps the main criticism of Barrera has been a lack of consistency and problems with his final ball.

The game against France however showed Barrera has the mental strength to cope when a difficult situation comes his way. Indeed, Barrera took it all in his stride last Thursday, giving a good example of what he can do by bursting into the box and winning Mexico a penalty in the second half.

Barrera had contract problems last summer with Pumas and at the time said he was prepared to listen to offers from other clubs. A significant amount of money from a European club would surely turn both his and his club's heads this time around.

Part of Mexico's "golden generation" of players that includes Guillermo Ochoa, Hector Moreno, Efrain Juarez, Chicharito, Carlos Vela, Giovani Dos Santos that coach Javier Aguirre considers the best in the country's history, Barrera's future looks bright.