Mexico
Group : A with Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon 
Current Fifa Ranking : 21st with 892 points
World Cup Appearances : 1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010
Best Achievement : Quarter Finals in 1970 and 1986
Head Coach : Miguel Herrera
Captain : Rafael Marquez
Mexico have probably endured the most turbulent qualifying campaign possible, as a total of forty seven players were used as four different coaches were in charge at different times during the campaign, each with their own preferred set of players. This makes them a weak side going into the World Cup, as their current head coach Miguel Herrera has only been appointed in October, making it clear that he will not have a full grasp of the way the squad works by the time they will kick their first ball off.
To make matters worse, El Tricolor have been paired up with the hosts, Croatia and Cameroon, making it an extremely steep hill to climb considering their current unstable squad. Both Croatia and Cameroon boast top talent which will want to excel at the biggest tournament, meaning that Mexico’s chances of progression are getting smaller by the day.
Leon’s former Barcelona centre back Rafael Marquez is the team captain, who will undoubtedly expect the best from the the rest of the squad which includes the likes of Santos Laguna’s Oriba Peralta, who was their most proficient striker during the qualifying stage, and Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez, who although has become a benchwarmer for his club keeps impressing for his country. Villareal’s Giovani Dos Santos has had a turbulent career yet always seems to provide exemplary performances for El Tricolor.
Had there been no current uncertainty in the squad, Mexico are always a tough side to beat on paper, yet this time advancement past the group stages may be a task too hard for Mexico to accomplish. With better, more concrete sides as opponents, this nation will need more than luck and fitness to hope to advance further into the latter stages of the tournament.
