FRANCE 98 – Team Detail

Mexico will arrive in France minus its ex-coach Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutinovic. Milutinovic, who took Mexico to the quarter-finals in ’86 and to the edge of France ’98 has been replaced Manuel Lapuente after qualifying. With no Milutinovic and no Hugo Sanchez, the striker has retired, it will be new-look Mexico in France this summer.

Mexican football history begins at the start of the century with migrants from France and England forming the first club, Pachuca AC. In 1902, an amateur league was formed with five teams and in 1932 a national competition, known as the Copa Mexico, was organised. It was not until 1943, however, that the first real league championship was formed featuring 10 clubs: America, Asturias, Marte, Atlante, Club Espana, Guadalajara, Atlas, ADO, Vera Cruz and Moctezuma. At that time, as is true today, the most popular teams were America and Guadalajara, followed by Atlas, Vera Cruz and Atlante.

At international level, Mexico will be participating in their 11th World Cup finals in France — a record that stands among the best. The Mexicans’ best results have been making the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986 at home. They also made the finals of the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador.

Mexican clubs have enjoyed considerable success in regional tournaments with America (4), UNAM (3), Cruz Azul (2), Guadalajara, Toluca, Atletico Espanol, Atlante and Puebla all having won CONCACAF titles.

In France, the Mexicans will be hoping to equal their best previous performance – the quarter-finals. They will also attempt to win their first match in a World Cup held in Europe. In their three previous appearances in Europe (’54 in Switzerland, ’58 in Sweden and ’66 in England) their record is far from impressive – 8 matches played, three draws, five defeats and no wins.