World champs leave it late in Mexico

Mexico

David Silva struck in stoppage time to earn world champions Spain a 1-1 draw in Mexico after Javier Hernandez had given the hosts an early lead.

A spirit of celebration was in the air at the legendary Estadio Azteca but the game failed to live up to expectations as even a 12th-minute strike from Manchester United new boy Hernandez could not light up a drab affair. Mexico thought they were heading for a famous victory but new Manchester City signing Silva levelled in added time to spare Spain's blushes. The strike saw Carlos Marchena extend his impressive record with the national team - he has now made 56 appearances for his country without defeat.

It was La Roja's first outing since adding the FIFA World Cup™ trophy to their European Championship title this summer, while Mexico were celebrating the 200th anniversary of gaining independence from, fittingly, Spain. Eighteen of the FIFA World Cup-winning 23 were present, with four of those who featured in the Final in the starting line-up and six others appearing from the bench. Their lack of match-fitness after just returning from holiday was clear to see.

Spain started the game brightly but failed to carve out any real goalscoring opportunities. And they were stunned in the 12th minute when Hernandez opened the scoring, racing into the box to fire home Andres Guardado's cross. It was the first goal Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas had conceded in 445 minutes of international football - the last shot that went past him was Rodrigo Millar's for Chile in the FIFA World Cup group stages. Hernandez almost doubled his tally seven minutes later but Marchena cleared in the nick of time.

The game clearly meant more to Mexico than it did to Spain as the hosts upped the pressure every time they had the ball while there was no real sense of urgency among Vicente Del Bosque's men. However, Spain could have levelled on the half-hour mark. Fernando Llorente's effort was poorly cleared by the Mexico defence and it fell straight back to the forward, who was about to let fly again before Hector Moreno blasted it away. They went even closer moments later when Santi Cazorla's 30-yard effort crashed off the crossbar.

Mexico reacted immediately and would have extended their advantage had Casillas not pulled off a stunning save to tip Rafael Marquez's effort around the post. Del Bosque rang the changes at half-time, bringing on Xabi Alonso, Victor Valdes, Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos and Silva, but the game failed to improve, especially as Mexico also replaced Hernandez, the game's best player by far.

There was little to note in the second half before Pedro was brought on in the 72nd minute, and the Barcelona striker almost levelled matters two minutes later when he fired narrowly over. Pedro went close again late on but saw his shot well saved by Mexico goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona before, minutes later, he failed to properly control Navas' cross and sent his effort wide.

Mexico thought they were going to cap a night of celebration with victory but were to be denied as a stunning pass from Xavi - who had been largely anonymous since coming on just after the hour mark - set up Silva for the equaliser. Silva almost snatched a late winner but sent his shot inches wide of the right upright.

Argentine team qualified for quarterfinals; Argentina vs. Mexico 3-1 | World Cup 2010

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

Argenitne team qualifies for 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, winning 3-1 in the match against Mexico.

As well as the first of today's match between Germany and England, this match also was marked by a disastrous referee mistake, who at the first goal for Argentina has not seen that Tevez was offside.

So, the first goal on the match scored Carlos Tevez in the 26th minute of the game, although Tevez was offside which was clearly visible (about 2 m). Until this moment Mexican team showed a great game, but this goal really shake them.

Soon the Argentines succeeded to score their second goal, in 32nd minute of the match, a scorer this time was Gonzalo Higuain. First half ended with 2-0 score.

In the second half, Argentine team additionally increased their advantage in the 52nd minute of the game. The scorrer again was Tevez, who has achieved a great goal from about 30 meters distance to the goal.

The only goal for the Mexican team scored Javier Hernandez in 71st minute of the match, and the final score was 3-1.

Argentina beats Mexico 3-1 at World Cup | World Cup 2010

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Argentina needed a couple of breaks in its second round World Cup match. It got one from the referee and another from Mexico.

Carlos Tevez scored twice—once on a disputed goal—and Gonzalo Higuain added another as the Albiceleste beat Mexico 3-1 on Sunday to move into the quarterfinals.

“We’re not here on vacation, we came here to leave everything so that the Argentines can be proud of us,” coach Diego Maradona said.

With Mexico getting the best scoring chances early on, Tevez headed in a pass from Lionel Messi in the 26th minute from close in. One problem: He was clearly offside.

Referee Roberto Rosetti of Italy awarded the goal after consulting with his linesman, the pair surrounded by angrily gesturing Mexican and Argentine players.

Then in the 33rd minute, Higuain rounded the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 after Mexico’s Ricardo Osorio, under no pressure, played the ball straight into his path. In the 52nd Tevez blasted in one of the tournament’s best goal, an unstoppable shot from 25 yards.

“Two mistakes … drastically changed the course of the game,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “There was a before and after.”

The call on Tevez’s first goal came just hours after the referee at Germany’s 4-1 win over England failed to recognize that a shot by England’s Frank Lampard, which would have tied the score at 2-2 late in the first half, clearly made it across the goal line after striking the crossbar.

Argentina, which also beat Mexico in round of 16 four years ago now plays Germany in the quarterfinals. That’s a rematch, too—a repeat of the 2006 quarterfinals, which the Germans won. The Germans also defeated Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final.

“We know Germany is a different team than the Mexico team we faced today,” Maradona said. “It’s more powerful, but we’ll have the right players on the pitch to face them.”

Mexico’s Javier Hernandez scored in the 71st.

Tevez proved difficult for Mexico’s defenders to handle, and Higuain—the leading scorer at the World Cup with four goals—should have added another but headed a cross wide from close range just before halftime.

Messi, one of the best playmakers in the tournament, again failed to score and struggled in midfield for much of the game. Still he came close: His shot in the 91st minute was tipped over the bar.

The Mexicans enjoyed the better chances as the game started, with Carlos Salcido’s fierce shot shaking the crossbar in the eighth minute.

After Tevez’s opening goal, though, the Argentines slowly began to control the game.

“We had trouble getting into the game in the first few minutes,” Tevez said. “We knew Mexico was going to press from the onset, try to take the ball away from us in the first minutes and try to hurt us.”

The Mexicans couldn’t, and Argentina has won all four of its matches in the tournament.

Rafael MARQUEZ-Mexico | World Cup 2010

Rafael MARQUEZ

• Date of Birth: 13 February 1979
• Height: 182 cm
• Shirt number: 4
• Position: Defender
• Current club: Barcelona (ESP)
• International Caps: 93
• International Goals: 11
• First international: Mexico - Ecuador
  (5 February 1997)

Club History

• AS Monaco (FRA): From 1999 to 2003
• Atlas (MEX): From 1996 to 1999

He may have lost his place in the starting XI at Barcelona, but the best defender in Mexican football history remains vital to Javier Aguirre's plans.

Rafael Marquez is much more than just a footballer. He is captain of the Tricolor, one of the team's leaders both on and off the field, the starting point for Mexico's attacks and the man charged with frustrating opposition forwards.

From an early age, it was clear that the player the Mexican press have dubbed the "Kaiser of Michoacan" was going to be something special. His first call-up to the national team came when he was just 17. Within two years he was a fixture in the side that won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup on home soil, starting alongside the legendary Claudio Suarez in central defence in a pairing considered the best in Mexico's history.

That tournament over, Marquez headed for Europe to join AS Monaco, winning the French title at the end of his first season in 1999/00. After another three Ligue 1 campaigns in the principality, he became Joan Laporta's first signing as president of Barcelona.

Marquez quickly established himself in the first team at the Nou Camp, going on to collect a host of honours with the Azulgrana, including two UEFA Champions Leagues, three Spanish league titles, and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Success has been harder to come by with Mexico but he has been one of the symbols of the Tricolor team ever since his arrival in the national set-up. His first FIFA World Cup™ came in Korea/Japan in 2002 where he captained the side. He wore the armband again in Germany four years ago, and has also skippered his country at the CONMEBOL Copa America, CONCACAF Gold Cup and FIFA Confederations Cup.

South Africa will be his third appearance on world football's biggest stage and it will also be his last. Marquez has already announced his decision to retire from the international arena once the tournament is over, passing on the mantle to a younger generation and allowing himself to concentrate on his club career.

The 31-year-old differs from many defenders in that he is stronger with the ball than he is without it. He is a technically accomplished player with an impressive passing range. His ability to hit precise, long passes means he is often found starting Mexico's attacking play from his deep position. It also explains why he has sometimes featured in midfield for both his club and country.

In his defensive work, he is physically strong, solid in the air – a quality he employs in attack also – and has good positional sense. Despite the occasional blip, he is simply a world-class defender and will be one of Aguirre’s key players in South Africa.

Gerardo TORRADO-Mexico | World Cup 2010

Gerardo TORRADO

For Javier Aguirre, Gerardo Torrado is one of Mexico's "three field marshals" along with Rafael Marquez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Seeing him in action, it is impossible to question the coach's logic, for Torrado belongs to the breed of footballer that leads by example. A tenacious, terrier-like midfielder, he is forever snapping at opponents' heels in his desire to win the ball.

The Mexico No6 rose to prominence in 1999 when, without a single first-team appearance for his club side Pumas, he received a call-up to Manuel Lapuente's squad for the CONMEBOL Copa America on the back of some fine displays for the national Under-20 team. Torrado displayed a composure beyond his years in the tournament in Paraguay, even scoring a late equaliser against Peru in a quarter-final that Mexico won on penalties.

Soon after, he headed to Europe to join Tenerife, then in the Spanish second tier. Under coach Rafael Benitez, he played a pivotal role as Tenerife won promotion to the top flight in the 2000/01 season. Although the Mexican began the following campaign back in the second division with modest Polideportivo Ejido, before long he had the big opportunity he had been seeking with a move to Sevilla.

Torrado spent two full seasons in the Andalusian capital before heading north to Racing Santander for the 2004/05 campaign. After five years in Spain, however, the player they call 'Borrego' (lamb) for his curly head of hair decided to return home and signed for Cruz Azul, the club he now captains.

Torrado has been a fixture in the Mexico team for every coach he has worked under – even winning round Ricardo La Volpe, Mexico's trainer at Germany 2006. The midfielder had initially not featured in La Volpe's plans but the coach ended up handing Torrado three starts in Germany on his return to the world stage that he had first trod in 2002 when he was considered one of the best players in his position in Korea/Japan.

If fierce tackling and tireless effort are his trademark, Torrado is not lacking technical ability either. Mexico's attacking game is based on quick circulation of the ball, and he can certainly hold his own when it comes to crisp passing. Above all though, his team-mates know that when they do lose possession, he will be the one rushing to recover it.

Torrado has also earned attention for his changes of image. During his career, he has gone from an afro look to a short-back-and-sides to an entirely shaved head. The fact his skin is sensitive to the sun means he must wear sunblock when he plays, making him hard to miss. Mexico fans will hope their No6 catches the eye for other reasons at South Africa 2010.

Argentina-Mexico preview | World Cup 2010

Argentina-Mexico preview | World Cup 2010

On 24 June 2006, in Leipzig, Argentina and Mexico met in a pulsating Round of 16 encounter at that year's FIFA World Cup™. The South Americans went through with a 2-1 win, with the Mexicans' hopes of a quarter-final place dashed once again. Four years on, Javier Aguirre’s men are desperate for revenge and have the chance to test themselves against arguably the tournament’s form team. But will they be able to handle charismatic coach Diego Maradona and mercurial maestro Lionel Messi?

The match
Argentina-Mexico, Round of 16, Johannesburg, Sunday 27 June, 20.30 (local time)
Argentina come into the last 16 on the crest of a wave, having swept all before them in Group B and ended up with three wins and nine points. Coach Maradona seems to have forged a sense of purpose and endeavour from a squad that had its difficulties in qualifying for South Africa 2010 and, with an in-form Lionel Messi in their ranks, they are hoping to book their place amongst the world’s top eight sides for the second FIFA World Cup in succession. El Diego will also enjoy the luxury of having a full-strength squad to choose from, free from injuries and suspensions.

For his part, Mexico boss Aguirre has already expressed his disquiet at having finished in second place in Group A, largely because his team has been inconsistent so far. A fine victory against 2006 runners-up France was the highpoint of El Tri’s group games, but it was sandwiched between a draw with hosts South Africa and a narrow defeat against Uruguay.

However revenge will be uppermost in Los Aztecas’ thoughts, not least because the current squad contains several survivors of that last, fateful meeting with Argentina including Rafael Marquez, who scored Mexico’s goal in Leipzig four years ago. The objective for Aguirre’s men is plain and simple: to get to that elusive “fifth game” at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament, and to book their place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 24 years.

History is on the side of Argentina; in fourteen matches against Mexico in the last 20 years, La Albiceleste have emerged victorious on seven occasions, with five draws and only two wins for El Tri.

Players to watch
Lionel Messi v Rafael Marquez
The Barcelona team-mates will meet once again as international rivals, as in 2006, when Mexican skipper Marquez opened the scoring and Messi came on as a late substitute with only a matter of minutes left in the game. The FIFA World Player of the Year 2009 is yet to notch his first goal in South Africa 2010, and La Pulga will be hoping to open his account in the knockout stages. Marquez, however, has continued his knack of scoring goals from his defensive midfield position, and scored his country’s first goal of the tournament in the Opening Match against South Africa.

The stat
14 - No fewer than 14 current players are survivors of the two nations’ last FIFA World Cup meeting in Leipzig in 2006. Amongst the eight Mexicans and six Argentinians is midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, whose superb volleyed winner for the 1986 champions was named by FIFA.com readers as the goal of the 2006 finals.

What they said
“We’re going to give Mexico the respect they deserve because, in spite of losing against Uruguay, they know exactly what they're doing. We will try to get at them and look for their weaknesses. They will have to respect my players as well because we’re putting together a very good tournament and we'll give everything for the shirt,” Diego Maradona, Argentina coach.

“It’s Argentina, but so what? There is always a lot of pessimism in Mexico. Unfortunately sometimes we don’t believe in ourselves and we don’t have that extra self-belief that other teams have. We need to change that mindset. Argentina can be beaten and that’s the way we need to approach the game,” Rafael Marquez, Mexico captain.

Rodriguez: Mexico have lost their fear

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

Mexico have lost their fear

Mexico were within touching distance of a place in the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time in their history in 2006. However, a tricky tie with a more experienced Argentina side in the Round of 16 marked the end of their impressive run, an extra-time goal sending El Tri back home.

Four years down the line, experience is something that is no longer lacking for Mexico. With a significant number of their squad now plying their trade in Europe, Javier Aguirre’s seasoned team are in confident mood ahead of the game against Uruguay that will decide which path they take next in the tournament. As the day of reckoning draws ever nearer, FIFA spoke to Francisco Rodriguez, one of the veterans of the 2006 squad who currently plays his football with PSV in the Netherlands.

FIFA: Francisco, could you tell us how Mexican players have changed in recent years?
Francisco Rodriguez: The mindset has changed a lot, especially as far as the younger players are concerned. Now I see with my own eyes that Mexican players really want to win when they play for the national team. Mexican footballers have lost that fear that they used to have, the fear of winning and of trying new experiences abroad.

In Mexico’s most recent matches, nine of the starting XI played in Europe last season. Does this help the national team, do you think?
It definitely does - a lot, in fact. It’s helped Mexican football to grow considerably. Bit by bit, we’re raising the level, not just in football but in the country as a whole as well.

Mexico are one of the few international teams who have three different captains, namely Rafael Marquez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Gerardo Torrado. What is the reasoning behind this?
The three of them are crucial players for Mexico. I believe that, by appointing them as captains, Javier Aguirre has given each one of them a role that befits their standing within the squad. But I should point out that our team represents one collective captain – we communicate well with each other on the pitch and we demand a lot of one another. For me, our leadership shows in the quality of our play.

Tell us about the mood in the dressing room after you beat France, a first for Mexico.
We obviously talked a lot prior to the World Cup, and what we all agreed on is that we wanted to make history, little by little. And the victory over France is the first page in this new chapter in the history of the Mexican game. We’re happy, but we also recognise that we’ve not yet qualified for the next round, that we still have a match to play. The team is extremely focused and is looking forward to the Uruguay encounter in good spirits.

There are no easy matches at a FIFA World Cup. What do you expect from Uruguay?
They’re a team that make it difficult for you to play your own game, as they fight hard in every area of the pitch, contesting every loose ball. They’ve got some key players like [Diego] Forlan and [Luis] Suarez. You can’t give them any space because they’ll make you pay in a flash. We’ll therefore need to be at our very best to win.

Argentina knocked you out in the Round of 16 four years ago. Have you thought about ensuring that you avoid them this time around?
We no longer have any kind of inferiority complex or fears of that sort. I think I can speak on behalf of my team-mates when I say that our first priority is to get three points against Uruguay. Then, irrespective of the team we come up against, it’s a new phase of the competition, and it’ll be a bit like starting from scratch. It’s a difficult stage of the tournament and we’ll just have to face up to whatever opponent we’re paired with, while continuing to play as we’ve been doing. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Argentina, Brazil or Germany - we’ll aim to play at the same high level.

You just need one point to progress. Will this affect your style of play?
No, not at all. We have our own style, which we’re not going to change under any circumstances, even now. When we step out on to the pitch, we always aim to win – playing for a draw never crosses our minds. Although a point apiece would qualify both teams, we want to win the group.

You just underlined the importance of playing club football in European leagues. What have you made of your time at PSV so far?
The style of football is very different, but it’s been a tremendous experience for me on a personal level. I’ve learned a lot and have come to appreciate that when a Mexican player leaves to play abroad, it’s beneficial for football back home.

Eight hopefuls eyeing four spots

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

Mexico

The qualification equation will be resolved once and for all in groups A and B on Tuesday when, to ensure fairness between the teams in contention, the two games in each section will kick off at the same time.

Uruguay and Mexico currently lead the way in Group A with four points apiece and a draw between them in Rustenburg would send both through to the last 16. Neither will enjoy the thought of facing Argentina in the next round, however, and that ought to motivate both to pursue a victory that would allow either South Africa or France to take advantage, despite the latter duo having collected a solitary point each so far. Whatever happens, the tournament is about to lose at least one major participant, with the host nation having never fallen at this stage in past editions and crisis-stricken France runners-up just four years ago.

In Group B, Argentina stand on the verge of the knockout phase, even if they could still conceivably be eliminated on goal difference if they lose to Greece and three teams finish on six points. Realistically, Diego Maradona’s men possess a healthy grip on top spot, while Korea Republic appear favourites to grab second place behind them. A draw in their meeting with Nigeria would see the Asian side through, depending on the outcome of Greece’s match against the leaders.

The matches
Group A (both matches at 16.00 local time)
France-South Africa, Mangaung/Bloemfontein
Mexico-Uruguay, Rustenburg

Group B (both matches at 20.30 local time)
Greece-Argentina, Polokwane
Nigeria-Korea Republic, Durban

The big games
Nigeria-Korea Republic

Semi-finalists at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, Korea Republic control their own destiny despite having suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to Argentina last time out. They have since pored over their failings in that game and have singled out their defensive frailty, general clumsiness and the goal they conceded early on, all of which made it difficult for them to claw their way back. Almost constantly on the back foot, they nonetheless showed glimpses of the quality that brought them a 2-0 win over Greece, and against Nigeria they will be keen to prove that lessons have been learnt. As for their opponents, the Super Eagles have been beaten twice but can still reach the Round of 16. Lars Lagerback has opted not to criticise his young, inexperienced team to avoid demoralising them even further, and with so much youthful talent in their ranks anything is possible – even if they have gone seven games without victory on the global stage and suffered six defeats during that run.

Greece-Argentina
Greece have lifted a veil of doubt after finally recording their first ever victory at a FIFA World Cup final tournament, a 2-1 comeback triumph against Nigeria that avenged their 2-0 loss to the Super Eagles at USA 1994. They must now complete the more taxing task of reversing the outcome of their defeat by Argentina on 21 June that same year in Boston, when Gabriel Batistuta helped himself to a hat-trick and a certain Maradona, then captain of La Albiceleste, added the other goal in a 4-0 romp. At least the European hopefuls will not have to contain El Pibe de Oro this time around – he will be pacing the technical area instead.

Mexico subs shoot down France

Mexico subs shoot down France

France, FIFA World Cup™ finalists in 2006, are on the verge of crashing out of the 2010 event after losing 2-0 to Mexico in Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium. Substitutes Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco grabbed the goals as El Tri moved to within touching distance of the last 16 with a deserved win over Raymond Domenech’s lacklustre side.

This was a generally well-matched encounter, with little to choose between two talented but inconsistent sides. Mexico, however, just about shaded it, and certainly succeeded in creating the better of the chances throughout. The French defence looked vulnerable faced with the pace and movement of Mexico's youthful attack, and Les Bleus should really have conceded a goal inside eight minutes. All it took was a simple lofted ball over the top from Rafael Marquez to leave them exposed but Carlos Vela, having raced clean through, ballooned his left-foot shot high over the crossbar.

Mexico were showing plenty of ambition, and their willingness to commit men forward was exemplified in left-back Carlos Salcido, who twice went close midway through the half. First, with 18 minutes played, he charged forward from his defensive berth and rifled a low drive just wide of the far post. Then, nine minutes later, Salcido again burst forward, jinked inside Bacary Sagna and, with William Gallas backing off, poked in a right-foot shot that Hugo Lloris could only parry clear.

France were more cautious in their approach, although the largely-subdued Franck Ribery did provide one worthwhile effort with a powerful right-foot shot that flashed across goal. Mexico remained the more threatening, and even the loss of Vela to injury did not disrupt their rhythm, with the Arsenal striker's replacement, Pablo Berrera, heading just wide within a couple of minutes of entering the fray.

The French would have felt fortunate to return to the dressing rooms with the scores level, but they emerged with renewed determination and forced a decent early save from Oscar Perez when Florent Malouda was given time and space to crack in a powerful right-foot shot. With Mexico struggling to replicate their first-half form, Javier Aguirre rang the changes, and it was one of his substitutes, Hernandez, who provided the all-important breakthrough.

Marquez again split the French defence with a simple through-ball, and Hernandez, having sprung the offside trap, coolly sidestepped Lloris before sidefooting into the open net. A resolute French response seemed inevitable, yet it never materialised. Instead, Mexico made sure of all three points when Blanco slotted a textbook penalty to the right of Lloris after Barrera's thrilling run was halted by Eric Abidal's sliding challenge. El Tri now march on to their final fixture against Uruguay knowing that a point will be enough to see them through to the last 16, while France face the hosts knowing that only an unlikely set of results will salvage their South Africa 2010 dreams.

Mexico vs. Italy friendly, 2-1

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

In another friendly match before the World Cup 2010, Mexico won current world champions - Italy, result of the match was 2-1.

This match continued a series of Italian bad presentation before the World Cup 2010, where Italy will try to defend the title earned in Germany four years ago.

In the rough and torn game, full of fouls, Mexico took 2-0 lead, scorers were Carlos Vela (17th minute) and Medina (84th minute). Only a minute before the end of the match, Bonucci managed to score and thus minimize loss of Italian team.

South Africa vs. Mexico 1-1

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

The first game on the 2010 World Cup ended without a winner. The result of the match between the hosts - South Africa, and Mexico was 1-1.

The first half passed without goals, although the players of Mexico had more opportunities for scoring, and played better than hosts.

However, in the second half the players of South Africa woke up and created several opportunities for goal. From one of them, Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a goal in 55th minute of the game and so South Africa led over Mexico.

In 79th minute of the match Rafael Márquez scored the goal that tied the result to 1-1.

Until the end of the match there were more good chances for a goal for both teams, but the result remained the same.

From purgatory to paradise

From purgatory to paradise

“It doesn’t matter if he’s in the second division; I’d take him to South Africa even if he was in the third division. I don’t care where my players play as long as they’re playing well.” So said Diego Maradona when pressed on why he had picked Newcastle United’s Jonas Gutierrez, backing his midfielder to perform in paradise despite spending last season toiling away in purgatory. The step up may prove vast, but Gutierrez will be far from alone in attempting to pull it off, as FIFA.com now examines in this look at the players ready to make the leap from the second tier to South Africa 2010.

Overall, around 20 players will be feeling the added urge to prove they belong at the global showcase, with many having given up hope that they would be called up at all. That was certainly the case of Algeria’s Djamel Mesbah, who spent the 2009/10 campaign with Lecce in Italy’s Serie B.

“What’s happening to me proves that you must never lose hope,” he said after being called up. “In life, anything can always happen. That’s maybe even truer in football.” Those thoughts would no doubt be echoed by Djamal Abdoun of Nantes, Rafik Saifi of Istres and Ajaccio’s Carl Medjani, all of whom have teamed up with Mesbah after plying their trade in France’s Ligue 2 last term.

There is even a hint of fairytale in some cases, with the lower leagues cast less as the game’s inferior divisions than as the place where the grandest dreams take shape. Thus intimated United States captain Carlos Bocanegra when discussing compatriot Jay DeMerit, who spent several long years as an amateur footballer. “His story is really great: here’s a guy who went from kicking a ball against the walls of a farm in Wisconsin to the [English] Premier League.” Though his club, Watford, have since been relegated, DeMerit will be back rubbing shoulders with the game's leading stars on South African soil.

Australian goalkeeper Adam Federici would doubtless recognise much of that tale, having “played amateur football because, after all, I needed to put clothes on my back and eat”. Already living a dream to be playing for Reading, he must be pinching himself to now be part of the Socceroos set-up, particularly as he puts his presence in the squad down to an extraordinary exploit from December 2008. “When I scored against Cardiff, I got an SMS from the national coach saying he liked goalkeepers who scored goals,” Federici explained. “I hope that plays in my favour during the World Cup.”

Federici is in good company too, as Pim Verbeek also plumped for second-tier ambassadors Carl Valeri of Italian outfit Sassuolo, Dario Vidosic of Duisburg and Mark Milligan of JEF United Ichihara. “I needed to leave Australia and have one or two good years before Pim started thinking about me again,” said Milligan, who quit Australia’s Newcastle Jets for China in 2009, before making the switch to the Japanese second division. “It was time for me to grow up, I think. I knew what I needed to do to go to the World Cup. I’ve grown in maturity and if I hadn’t made that move, I wouldn’t be part of the World Cup squad.”

His namesake Dave Mulligan of New Zealand is in an even more extreme situation as he is not attached to any club at all, and the Kiwis’ Simon Elliott is in the exact same boat, suggesting coach Ricki Herbert is more concerned with a player’s talent than the reputation of his club side. Indeed, another five members of the New Zealand squad earn their pay in the lower leagues: namely Ipswich Town’s Tommy Smith, Chris Wood of West Bromwich Albion, Jeremy Christie from FC Tampa Bay, Plymouth Argyle’s Rory Fallon and Middlesbrough’s Chris Killen.

For their part, Slovenian duo Jasmin and Samir Handanovic may well be cousins and operate between the sticks for Italian clubs, but their careers have followed vastly divergent paths. While Samir is first choice for the national side and wears the gloves for Serie A tenants Udinese, Jasmin’s Mantova have just been relegated to the third division. The considerable gap between them has nonetheless been temporarily reduced, with Matej Mavric of Koblenz in Germany and captain Robert Koren, who was playing for West Brom but has since been released, sandwiched between the pair as second-division representatives.

For many of these players, the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will provide their very first taste of football’s highest standards. For others, meanwhile, it represents another chance to seize the spotlight, and that applies to Slovakia’s Marek Cech, who joined current club West Brom from Portuguese giants Porto, where he helped clinch two domestic titles and experienced the thrill of UEFA Champions League nights. Likewise, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, now with Vera Cruz, brought his sparkling talents to bear at France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002, and, at 37, will be hoping to perform at least one more trademark Cuauhtemiña on the grandest stage of all.

Also dreaming of making an impact after club campiagns away from the elite will be Cameroon’s Georges Mandjeck and Slovakia’s Erik Jendrisek, both of Kaiserslautern; fellow Slovakian Martin Petras of Cesena; Honduran midfielder Julio Cesar De Leon from Torino; Serbia and Munich 1860 player Antonio Rukavina; Korea Republic international Kim Bo Kyung of Oita Trinita; Chile and Real Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo; and Andre Ayew of Ghana and Arles Avignon.

Follow my team : Mexico

Mexico will kick off their tournament against hosts South Africa at Soccer City Stadium. They will then take the 350km drive to the city of Polokwane, north of Johannesburg, to face France.

Travel options from Johannesburg to Polokwane

By plane: A flight from OR Tambo International and Polokwane International airport will take you around 45 minutes. Once you are there, you can catch a taxi (minibus) or cab (meter taxi) to the city centre.

By car: This is a flat road and offers an enjoyable and unique feel for the African landscape as you travel the 350 km to Polokwane. Simply rent a car in Johannesburg and follow the N1 North to Polokwane. Along the way are such well-known and spectacular spots as Bela-Bela, Makopane and the Rus de Winter Game Reserve, to name but a few.

From Polokwane Mexico will then have to drive 375km to Rustenburg to play Uruguay at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The provinces (Limpopo Province and North West Province) are relatively close to each other and this should be a short and enjoyable journey for fans.

Travel options from Polokwane to Rustenburg

By car: There are no flights between these two cities and so driving may well be your best option. The route takes in arid countryside and majestic valleys, while Hartbeespoort Dam is well worth a short stop. On your way to Rustenburg, you may also wish to take a detour to the breathtaking Sun City resorts before completing your journey.

Profile Mexico

After a turbulent couple of years that has seen three coaches come and go and more than sixty players pull on the famous green jersey, Mexico have returned to calmer waters under the steadying influence of Javier Aguirre. The former Atletico Madrid coach has put together a team comprising bright young talents and established stars, restoring their wavering confidence in the process.

Following the appointment of the man they call El Vasco (The Basque), the regional powerhouses shot up from fifth to second place in the final six-team qualification group in the CONCACAF Zone, winning five games, drawing one and losing just the one. Having safely made their way to the finals, their objective will now be to progress beyond the Round of 16, where they have been knocked out at the last four FIFA World Cup™ finals.

The road to South Africa
After disposing of Belize with a minimum of fuss in the second qualifying round, Mexico were drawn into a tough group containing Jamaica, Canada and Honduras in the following phase. Coached at the time by Sven Goran Eriksson, El Tri struggled to impose their authority and only scraped in the fourth and final round on goal difference ahead of the Reggae Boyz.

The Mexicans' erratic form continued in the final six-team round-robin group, kicking off with a 2-0 defeat in the USA before beating Costa Rica by the same scoreline and then losing 3-1 to Honduras. That last defeat cost Eriksson his job and his replacement by Aguirre, who stepped in in similar circumstances on the road to Korea/Japan 2002.

And once again the unflappable Aguirre worked a miracle, transforming Mexican fortunes despite kicking off with a 2-1 reverse in El Salvador. Victories over each of their five group rivals then followed, giving them a ticket to the finals with one game to spare. After a draw against Trinidad and Tobago in their final outing, the men in green ended the group in second place behind eternal rivals USA.

The star players
Veteran playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco is perhaps the player Mexico fans should thank for their side's turnaround. Lured out of retirement by Aguirre, the uniquely talented 36-year-old became the symbol of a revitalised team, helping younger team-mates such as Guillermo Ochoa, Efrain Juarez, Andres Guardado and Giovani dos Santos to find their best form. Along with skipper Rafael Marquez, they are sure to provide the nucleus of the squad that will travel to South Africa 2010.

The coach
Javier Aguirre is Mexico's most successful coach of recent times. After guiding the unfancied Pachuca to the league championship in 1999, El Vasco was handed the job of reviving the national team's faltering bid to qualify for Korea/Japan 2002. After doing just that, he then took the Mexicans to the top of a challenging group that contained Italy, Croatia and Ecuador, though their Asian adventure came to an end with a last-16 defeat to USA.

After the tournament he signed a contract with Spanish club Osasuna, taking them to the UEFA Champions League in 2005/06. That impressive achievement led to a switch to Atletico Madrid, and though he steered Los Colchoneros into fourth place in 2007/08, he was dismissed halfway through the following season, the wheel turning full circle again when he took over a crisis-stricken Mexico. And having come to his country's rescue for a second time, the wily Aguirre is eyeing a lengthy stay at South Africa 2010.

Previous FIFA World Cups
· Mexico have qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals 14 times in all, more than any other side from the CONCACAF Zone.
· Mexico's achieved their best-ever performances in the finals as tournament hosts in 1970 and 1986, reaching the last eight on both occasions.
· South Africa 2010 is their fifth appearance in the finals in a row. On all four previous occasions they have bowed out in the Round of 16.

Records
· Under Javier Aguirre, Mexico went an impressive 12 games without defeat before losing 2-1 to Colombia in a friendly, a game in which they used only home-based players.
· The Mexico squad that earned qualification for South Africa 2010 contained four players who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2005: Giovani dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Efrain Juarez and Hector Moreno.
· Surprisingly, there were no Mexicans among the top 20 scorers in the CONCACAF qualifying competition, although no fewer than 18 Tricolor players found the back of the net at least once during the qualifiers.

What they said
"I feel relaxed. Whenever you reach an objective you've been brought in to achieve you have the satisfaction of knowing that you haven't let down the people who put their faith in you. I am happy and proud. When I came into the job we were fifth and nine points away from first place, and now we're in the World Cup." Coach Javier Aguirre reacts to his side second-place finish in the CONCACAF Zone.

Marquez boost for Mexico

Marquez boost for Mexico

Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez has given Mexico a major boost ahead of Friday's 2010 FIFA World Cup™ opener against hosts South Africa by returning to training.

Marquez was withdrawn at half-time in last week's friendly win over Italy with a leg injury and it was feared the team's best-known player could miss at least the opening fixture.

But the indications are now that Marquez will be fit for the game and there is further good news regarding striker Guillermo Franco, who has also returned to full training after a muscle complaint.

Vela: We're ready

Vela: We're ready

Carlos Vela may be just 21, but the Arsenal forward has certainly packed plenty of experience into his relatively short professional career. The Mexican international has fired his country to glory at the 2005 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as tasting club football in his homeland, Spain and England.

And as the former Guadalajara, Salamanca and Osasuna starlet told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview, he could barely be more excited about his biggest challenge yet: representing El Tri at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

“We’re ready,” said Vela, the confidence clear in his voice. “We’ve prepared really well. It’s not every day you get to play against opponents like England, the Netherlands and Italy. We played well against the first two but weren’t able to win, which is why it meant so much to beat the reigning world champions. It was a real confidence-booster ahead of the World Cup.”

What is more, Mexico could not have a bigger platform on which to begin their FIFA World Cup campaign, when they take on hosts South Africa in 11 June’s Opening Match in Johannesburg. “It’s a great opportunity, but it’s not going to be easy because it’s the first match, we’re up against the host nation and there’s all that pressure. I think the key will be to shake off our nerves as quickly as possible and play like we have been doing these last few weeks.”

“It’s incredible, our fans are always with us whether we win or lose, and that really motivates us,” said the Gunners’ front-man on the estimated 20,000 Mexican fans expected to be in the Soccer City Stadium on Friday. “These people deserve to see their team do something special in the tournament and fight to reach the latter stages.”

Vela also believes that El Tricolor’s 23-man finals squad, on current form, is more than capable of causing a stir on South African soil. “Our philosophy is to always make good use of the ball. With that in mind, I think that (coach) Javier Aguirre has called up the right kind of players: ones who are quick and comfortable on the ball. It’s easier to work with a team like that and we’re improving step by step. We’ve already beaten the world champions, why shouldn’t we dream of winning the Trophy ourselves?”

Hosts Bafana Bafana could hardly have drawn tougher opening opponents in Group A. The Mexicans are well used to performing at altitude and the sound of the vuvuzelas is very similar to the trumpets which punctuate matches at their Estadio Azteca home.

“We’ve got no excuses,” said Vela. “We’re used to playing at altitude and even though we’ll have (most of) the fans against us, it’s not the first time we’ve played away from home. We’ll just have to focus on what’s happening on the pitch, that’ll be the best way to win the match.”

As a striker known for his predatory instincts, was scoring Mexico’s opener in the 2-1 victory over Italy vital after missing two one-on-ones in the 3-1 defeat against England? “Not really, that’s just football. Sometimes you score, sometimes you don’t, some you win, some you lose. You’re always on a knife edge, but it’s best to stay positive and keep plugging away. You mustn’t let your head drop if you miss a chance, you have to stay calm, position yourself near goal and you’ll score sooner or later.”

Part of Mexico’s ‘Golden Generation’ which won the U-17 world title at Peru 2005, three other members of that squad have also made the leap to senior international level in time for South Africa 2010. Does Vela believe that trophy-winning experience will prove useful? “It’s very important because we showed that we (Mexico) can get it right. We’ve known each other for years and have won titles together: now’s the time to do it at the very highest level. We’re full of confidence.”

“We’re in a great place, which gives us the chance to chill out and get away from the city. But it is boring sometimes, particularly as we’re not allowed to have visitors,” said Vela as the interview drew to a close, when asked how to keep boredom at bay during the squad’s lengthy spell away from home.

“We use our mobile phones, Playstations, go on the internet or all get together in our rooms: anything to keep us entertained. To be honest we can’t wait. At first time passed really fast and now it’s going so slow – we want the World Cup to start now!”

Mexico vs. Italy friendly, 2-1

In another friendly match before the World Cup 2010, Mexico won current world champions - Italy, result of the match was 2-1.

This match continued a series of Italian bad presentation before the World Cup 2010, where Italy will try to defend the title earned in Germany four years ago.

In the rough and torn game, full of fouls, Mexico took 2-0 lead, scorers were Carlos Vela (17th minute) and Medina (84th minute). Only a minute before the end of the match, Bonucci managed to score and thus minimize loss of Italian team.

England vs. Mexico friendly, 3:1

England football team won in a friendly game against Mexico with 3:1 result. This is a very important victory for England, because Mexico is considered as a strong opponent for any team.

The match was played in London at Wembley Stadium, and goals for scored England Ledley King, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson, while the only goal for Mexican team has scored Guillermo Franco.