From The My Sportsbook Making its 13th World Cup appearance, Mexico heads to Germany in search of its first glistening golden trophy. The three time NAFC champion enters this year's competition after finishing with a near flawless qualifying campaign. The team's perfect record was tainted by a 1-1 draw with Panama and a 2-0 defeat from the U.S. Mexico, who recently placed sixth in the FIFA Coca-Cola World Soccer Rankings, will be up against Group D contenders Iran, Angola and Portugal. Ricardo La Volpe's squad will face Iran June 11 at Nuremberg in its opening match of the tournament. The Central American team meets Iran on a high note after defeating Brazil 1-0 at the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005. Mexico eventually fell to Argentina in the semifinals, but the win over Brazil was enough to boost the team's ego. Volpe will look to veterans Rafael Marquez and Oswaldo Sanchez and younger talent Carlos Salcido and Francisco Fonseca in this year's World Cup. In Mexico's past 12 outings, the team has advanced past the initial group stage on only three occasions. Significant past players: Antonio Carbajal, Carlos Hermosillo Achievements: -- Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 1993, 1996, 1998 -- Winner FIFA Confederations Cup 1999 |
