World Cup 2010: Mexico

World Cup 2010: MEXICO

FIFA ranking: 17

Overall World Cup record: 11-22-12

Coach: Javier Aguirre

Best performance: Quarterfinals, 1970, 1986

Overview: Many at home consider this squad to be the best El Tri has ever fielded. To prove those backers right, however, Aguirre’s team, a blend of young (Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos, Andres Guardado, Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa) and old (Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Rafael Marquez), will have to make it past the quarterfinals, something Mexico has never done.

-- Kevin Baxter