Internationally, few have been the successes of the Mexican national team. “El Tri” has only one official tournament win, being the FIFA Confederations Cup 1999. The Mexicans have participated in the Copa America, but have only managed two losses in the final, first to Argentina in 1993 and Colombia in 2001. Five wins in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, though, provided a welcome distraction.

Strengths
Individual talent, expecially through the middle. The Mexican team has a band of quality players, such as Rafael Marquez in the defense, Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the midfield, and Guillermo Franco up front, elements that are the backbone of coach Javier Aguirre’s side.

Star Men
Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
Rafael Márquez (Barcelona)
Guillermo Franco (West Ham)
Guardado (Deportivo la Coruña)
Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven)
Giovani dos Santos Ramírez (Tottenham Hotspur)