Mexico World Cup profile: Guide to squad, record, manager, path to final, team news, latest odds and star man

MEXICO are hoping to progress past the last-16 stage for the first time since 1986 in Russia.

The South Americans are nothing but consistent and last failed to get out of the group stages at a World Cup way back in 1966.

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Here's all you need to know about the side drawn in Group F with South Korea, Germany and Sweden.

In a nutshell: Central American nation with a long and proud tradition in the World Cup, stretching all the way back to the inaugural tournament in 1930.

Flag: Classic vertical tricolor of green, white and red. In the middle, meanwhile, is an eagle with a serpent in its talons, sat atop a cactus, which can’t be comfortable.

Population: 127.5 million

Nickname: El Tricolor, El Tri or La Verde.

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Manager: Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio is the man in charge and, get this, he’s got a diploma in Science and Football from Liverpool John Moores University.

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Captain: It’s the Real Betis midfielder Andres Guardado. They call him "Principito" or "Little Prince", although, to be honest, he looks nothing like the late Purple Rain singer.

Star Man: West Ham’s Javier Hernandez will provide Mexico’s main goal threat yet again. He’s already bagged 49 goals in his 100 caps, making him the nation’s all-time highest scorer.

Rising Star: PSV Eindhoven’s Hirving Lozano is already making waves in the Eredivisie since he moved there last summer. The 22-year-old winger has notched 13 goals in 22 games to date for his club and has seven in 24 for his country.

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Most caps: Claudio Suarez (177).

All-time top scorer: Javier Hernandez (49).

Nice kit? Deep green and utterly delightful. One of the best kits at this summer’s tournament. Get one.

Most offensive haircut? Experienced goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Think Anita Dobson’s twin brother.

Any names we can laugh at like kids? He doesn’t sound very Mexican but midfielder Jurgen Damm is tailor-made for headline writers. Shame Miguel Ponce doesn’t get a look in these days.

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Rivals? The USA. You’d suspect that it may just have got a little more fierce in the last year or two as well, don’t you?

National anthem: Himno Nacional Mexicano is as sprightly, bright and bouncy as you’d expect from a Mexican national anthem. In fact, you could almost dance to it.

Sample lyric:
But if some enemy outlander should dare
to profane your ground with his sole,
think, oh beloved Fatherland!, that heaven
has given you a soldier in every son.

National dish: You’ve got to love a bit of Mexican grub, haven’t you? Tacos it is then.

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National drink: Salt and limes at the ready amigos, it’s tequila of course.

Appearances in the Finals: 15 from 18 attempts.

World Cup Finals Record: P53 W14 D14 L25 F57 A92

World Cup Win Ratio: 26.4%

Best World Cup Performance: Quarter-finalists in the Finals they hosted in 1970 and 1986.

FIFA World Ranking: 17

Path to final: Or should we say path to the last 16?

There, they are likely to face Brazil and another elimination in their fourth game.

The likes of Colombia, England or Belgium could await in the quarter-final before a potential match against France, Portugal or Uruguay in the semis.