Javier Aguirre, the coach of the Mexican national team, named just 26 players in his provisional squad for preparations before the 2010 World Cup. With a strong team filled with known & proven footballers from Europe and Central or South America, Aguirre does have a host of riches at his disposal to make his team competitive in this edition of the World Cup.
The problem that the coach faces is to pick the final 23 members from this talented squad of individuals. 
Here’s a look at the team:
Goalkeepers
Oscar Perez (Chiapas) Guillermo Ochoa (Club America) Luis Ernesto Michel (Club Atletico Guadalajara)
Defenders
Rafael Marquez (Barcelona) Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart) Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven) Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven) Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar) Paul Aguilar (Pachuca) Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM) Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara) Juan Carlos Valenzuela (Club America) Joerge Torres Nilo (Atlas) Adrian Aldrete (Morelia)
Midfielders
Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna) Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray) Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona) Gerrardo Torrado (Cruz Azul) Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM)
Forwards
Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM) Adolfo Bautista (Club Atletico Guadalajara) Alberto Medina (Club Atletico Guadalajara) Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz) Carlos Vela (Arsenal) Javier Hernandez (Manchester United) Guillermo Franco (West Ham United)
The squad may have a balance of youth and experience but the fact that only 5 midfielders have made the list, including both the young Dos Santos brothers, means that Aguirre will be looking at some of his defenders playing in the midfield position.
With the likes of Rafael Marquez, Adrian Aldrete and Juan Carlos Valenzuela in the squad, Aguirre will be assured that the midfield can be taken care of with any of these players playing as the holding midfielder.
The only notable absentee from the list is Miguel Sabah, Morelia’s prolific striker who has been forced out of the World Cup with a tendon injury. Cuauhtemoc Blanco finds his place, yet again, for this his third edition of the World Cup. At 37, he is one of the oldest members of the team and will also be the oldest member on the pitch, in almost all games. However, Blanco is expected to warm the bench this time ‘round, considering that the likes of Guillermo Franco, Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela, Alberto Medina and Pablo Barrera are in the lineup.
Mexico will face off with hosts South Africa on opening day, while Uruguay and France are the other two members of a relatively balanced group. While South Africa will be the crowd favourites, the Mexicans will be tipped to beat them on paper, as well as against Uruguay. However the group is evenly balanced and all things staying as per “on paper” standards, Mexico will probably go through with France, only to face Argentina, in all likelihood, in the Round of 16.