Figures to watch in Mexico's World Cup squad

Mexican soccer fans will be watching five key figures during the nation's World Cup campaign.

Fans have pinned hopes on Guillermo Ochoa, goalkeeper at Mexico City club America, to repeat his stellar performance during the qualifying phase.

In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Ochoa played second fiddle to Oswaldo Sanchez but this time round, team manager Javier Aguirre has given him the top position.

His best performance to date was against Costa Rica during the qualifying round when he saved goal after goal, giving the Mexico's strikers to put in the two goals that took the team into the next round.

Aging superstar striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco will also be important to Mexicans, although possibly less important to the final result.

Blanco became a household name when he won the Silver Ball and the Golden Shoes awards in the 1999 Confederations Cup. but he has faded since. After a spell at U.S. soccer team Chicago Fire, he returned to Mexican leagues this year not at the club that made him famous but at second division team Veracruz, where he has failed to shine.


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