TRI UMPH:

Why Mexico Will Be Big Contenders By The Next World Cup (Tom Kelly, 6/18/10, Bleacher Report)

At the start of the tournament, Javier Aguirre's side had the tough task of facing the South Africans. Facing the home team in the first match is a terrible handicap because no team has ever beaten the home side in the first match, ever. Many teams come close, like Mexico who did everything but win in the match against South Africa. They then went on to earn three points against a French side who have been devastatingly bad in the whole of the Tournament. The Mexicans still aren't big contenders right now, but they look set to pass through the group stages like they did in 2006. And it's my belief they'll do even better than that in 2014.

This isn't just a hunch. It's all about talent-the exact thing Mexico's young up-and-comers are brimming with (so much so they have been dubbed Mexico's "Golden Generation"). This generation probably had it's biggest achievement when they won the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship but also achieved a Quarter-Final place, where they narrowly lost to eventual winners Argentina in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

A number of players from this "Golden Generation" have made their way onto the national Mexican team for the World Cup. Giovanni dos Santos was crowned second and third best player in each of these tournaments respectfully and has offered some great play for professional club sides Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray S.K. Already a big player in the Mexico squad, he like many of his friends from the national youth squads, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Pablo Barrera, Hector Moreno and Guillermo Ochoa (who was voted 11th best goalkeeper in the world in 2008 by the way) , is already a player who is showing his craft, skill and talent are worthy of a World Cup game. In four years time, these players will also have the benefit of one more important trait, and that trait is experience. With a number of these players signing to big European clubs, they will gain invaluable experience in some of the toughest competitions in the world that they can bring back to El Tri for the toughest competition in the world.

No two teammates have dominated play more than Dod Santos and Salcido.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 20, 2010 12:11 AM