Mexico have advanced from the group stage in their last seven World Cups, but have not won a last-16 match since 1986. Will this be the year Mexico overcome their hoodoo?
Gerardo Martino’s side have hit a poor run of form in recent months that has seen them win just one of five games, which includes a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Paraguay and a 3-0 trouncing by Uruguay.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for Mexico who were impressive in qualifying, finishing second in Concacaf qualifying. While they do not have stars of the magnitude of Lionel Messi or Robert Lewandowski, they do possess consistent performers.
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has been impressive for Mexico but is currently sidelined with injury. Jimenez has also not been the same player since his head injury, which is a huge concern for his manager, with Martino long since stating his desire to build his team around the striker.
Mexico’s front three of Hirving Lozano, Jimenez and Jesus Manuel Corona look dangerous on paper, with all three impressing for their clubs in the recent past, but for Mexico it has proved to be a different story.
When they played together in qualifying, they did not manage a single goal as a trio. If Martino can find a way to get the threesome firing, they could prove pivotal in Mexico making it out of the group.
While Argentina are likely to be a formidable opponent in Group C, Mexico are no strangers to pulling off a World Cup upset. You only have to look back to 2018 where they shocked the world and managed to run out 1-0 winners against holders Germany.
Mexico have every chance of getting themselves through the group phase, but they need to find a way to get their forwards firing.
Manager: Gerardo Martino
Star player: Raul Jimenez
One to watch: Hirvang Lozano
World Cups appeared in: 1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
Fixtures: Nov 22 - Mexico v Poland; Nov 26 - Argentina v Mexico; Nov 30 - Saudi Arabia v Mexico
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The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Teams
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
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