PROSPECTS
The draw seems to have mapped Mexico’s fate — they should finish in the top two of their group, above Iran and Angola, before losing to Argentina or Holland. To fare better, they need to see the best of Rafael Marquez, of Barcelona, who often plays in front of a back three. Their cause should be helped by the squad preparing together for two months.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Cuauhtémoc Blanco, famed for his rabbit-jump trick, where he leaps between two opponents with the ball between his feet, was recalled last week after being left out for ten months. “I’m looking forward to giving the fans the big satisfaction they deserve,” the forward said.
MANAGER
Ricardo La Volpe took rosary beads and a compass to the World Cup draw to meet the requirements of feng shui. An Argentinian, he has the Argentina-born Guillermo Franco in his squad.
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RIVALRY WITH UNITED STATES BY WORD
“They suck. I’m so happy,” Landon Donovan, the US forward, said after the victory over Mexico last September. “The Mexican players are jealous of us because we have a life and they have nothing.”
RIVALRY WITH UNITED STATES BY DEED
As tempers rose in the final minutes of Mexico’s 2-0 defeat by the US in the 2002 World Cup, Marquez, the Mexico captain, was sent off for a violent, high kick at Cobi Jones.
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FAMOUS FORMER GOALKEEPER (1)
Antonio Carbajal played in five World Cups (1950-1966), a record he shares with Lothar Matthäus, of West Germany (1982-1998).
FAMOUS FORMER GOALKEEPER (2)
Jorge Campos designed his own garish kits and sometimes switched from goalkeeper to outfield player during a match.
FOX-TO-FOX
Jared Borgetti, known as the Desert Fox, is the star striker in a team praised for their World Cup qualification by Vicente Fox, the president of Mexico. “We are proud of you,” he said.
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MOST RECENT MEETING WITH ENGLAND
May 25, 2001, friendly: England 4, Mexico 0
PREMIERSHIP PRESENCE
Borgetti became the first Mexican to play in the English top division after joining Bolton Wanderers last summer. He was the leading scorer in World Cup qualifying in any region, with 14 goals, but his first league goal was on Saturday.
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STAT
Mexico scored at least 30 more goals than any other team in World Cup qualifying. They scored 67, with the Czech Republic next on 37.
PREVIOUS WORLD CUP APPEARANCES
1930: First round. 1934: Did not qualify. 1938: Did not enter. 1950: First round. 1954: First round. 1958: First round. 1962: First round. 1966: First round. 1970: Quarter- finals. 1974: Did not qualify. 1978: First round. 1982: Did not qualify. 1986: Quarterfinals. 1990: Did not enter. 1994: Second round. 1998: Second round. 2002: Second round.
GROUP OPPONENTS
Portugal, Iran, Angola.
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PREDICTION
Second round.