THE BIG STAR THE RISING STAR Mexico

THE BOSS TATA MARTINO

FORMER Barcelona and Argentina coach was appointed in 2019 and began his Mexico reign with an 11-game unbeaten run. But results have gone south since and expectations for Qatar are not high.

RAUL JIMENEZ (RIGHT) THE Wolves centre forward, 31, will likely lead a front three in Qatar, two years after that horrific head injury that almost cost him his career.

SANTIAGO GIMENEZ

ARGENTINE-BORN forward has scored six goals in 16 games since joining feyenoord in the summer. Big things are expected of the 21-year-old and this is a chance for him to showcase his talents.

FORM ERRATIC

FINISHED second behind Canada in qualifying and have struggled for consistency, with just three wins — against Nigeria, Surinam and Peru — in their last 10 games.

KEOWN’S VERDICT

MEXICO’S last seven World Cups have seen them qualify from their group, only to fall at the first hurdle in the knockout stages each time. Manager Martino wants to break that hoodoo and take them to the quarter-finals for the first time away from home soil.

His ageing team carries a great deal of experience and I expect them to qualify from this group. At their heart is Edson Alvarez of Ajax, a promising player who will look to dictate the play from midfield.