Mexico Opponent Preview - Jeonju

JEONJU, Korea (June 16, 2002) - The USA and Mexico will square off for the 47th time in their countries' illustrious rivalry, in what will arguably the most important gave ever played in the series. The match is set for Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Monday (June 17) at 2:25 a.m. ET (live on ESPN and Univision). A preview of the Mexican team follows.

MEXICO

Current FIFA World Ranking: 6^th (tied)

2002 World Cup qualifying: Finished second in CONCACAF Final Group (5-3-2; 16 GF, 9 GA)

2002 Record: 4-2-1

2001 Overall Record: 11-12-4

World Cup final appearances: 12 – 1930 (13^th), 1950 (12^th), 1954 (13^th), 1958 (16^th), 1962 (11^th), 1966 (12^th), 1970 (6^th), 1978 (16^th), 1986 (6^th), 1994 (13^th), 1998 (13^th), 2002

Overall Record in WC: 10-19-11

Record vs. USA: 28-9-4; 109 GF, 50 GA

Most Recent Match vs. USA: USA 1, Mexico 0 in Denver, Colo.; April 3, 2002 (Mathis)

Manager: Javier Aguirre (MEX)

Championship Honors: 1999 Confederations Cup champions; 1993, 1996 & 1998 Gold Cup champions

Key Players: Francisco Palencia (F, Espanyol), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (F, Real Valladolid), Alberto Garcia Aspe (F, Puebla)

 

Fast Facts: Have successfully qualified for their 12th World Cup, the most of any country in the CONCACAF region. … After earning just four points in their first five games (which included their first-ever home qualifying loss at Estadio Azteca), new head coach Javier Aguirre led a rebirth for the team in finishing 4-0-1 and eventually finishing in second place. … Were led in scoring by Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Jared Borgetti with five and three goals, respectively.

 

USA vs. MEXICO — All-Time Series History

 

RECORD SINCE 1990:  7-6-6 (GF 23, GA 18)
In the USA:  7-3-4 (GF 23, GA 12)
In Mexico:  0-3-1 (GF 0, GA 6)
At a Neutral Site: 0-0-1 (GF 0, GA 0; U.S. wins 4-1 in PK)

 

RECORD UNDER BRUCE ARENA: 4-3-0 (GF 9, GA 4)
In the USA:  4-1-0 (GF 9, GA 2)
In Mexico: 0-2-0 (GF 0, GA 0)

 

ALL-TIME WON-LOSS-TIE RECORD:  9-28-9 (GF 50, GA 109)
In the USA:  8-6-7 (GF 33, GA 24)
In Mexico:  0-21-1 (GF 13, GA 78)
At a Neutral Site: 1-1-1 (GF 4, GA 7)

 

ALL-TIME WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS:  3-13-5 (GF 23, GA 61)
In the USA:  2-2-4 (GF 14, GA 17)
In Mexico:  0-11-1 (GF 5, GA 42)
At a Neutral Site:  1-0-0 (GF 4, GA 2)

 

MEXICO ROSTER:

Goalkeepers: 1-Oscar Perez, 12-Oswaldo Sanchez, 23-Jorge Campos

 

Defenders: 2-Francisco Gabriel De Anda, 5-Manuel Vidrio, 16-Salvador Carmona, 20-Melvin Brown, 22 -Alberto Rodriguez

 

Midfielders: 3-Rafael Garcia, 4-Rafael Marquez, 6-Gerardo Torrado, 7-Ramon Morales, 8-Alberto Garcia Aspe, 11-Braulio Luna, 13-Sigifredo Mercado, 14-German Villa, 18-Joahan Rodriguez, 19-Gabriel Caballero,

 

Forwards: 9-Jared Borgetti, 10-Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 15-Luis  Hernandez, 17-Francisco Palencia, 21-Jesus Arellano