HOW THEY’LL LINE UP / MEXICO

GOALKEEPERS--Small, fleet and unpredictable, 29-year old Oscar Perez is a younger model of Jorge Campos, now a 35-year-old veteran experiencing his third World Cup as a bench observer. Oswaldo Sanchez of Guadalajara is Coach Javier Aguirre’s probable No. 2 keeper.

DEFENDERS--The loss of Claudio Suarez to a broken leg in April was initially seen as devastating, but Rafael Marquez has stepped up as a calm, skilled organizer in central defense. He and Cuauhtemoc Blanco are Mexico’s key players during this World Cup. Marquez will be flanked by Melvin Brown on the left and Manuel Vidrio on the right. It’s a solid enough group for CONCACAF competition, but it will need to be better than that against the likes of Italy and Croatia.

MIDFIELDERS--The loss of Jesus Arellano to a two-game suspension cost Mexico its only true playmaking midfielder. Subsequently, Aguirre has stocked his five-man midfield with hard-working, hard-tackling types in hope of closing down the opposition and counterattacking with long, quick feeds to Blanco and Francisco Palencia. Many Mexican fans were displeased with the selection of Gabriel Caballero, but he is one of the few attacking options in midfield. Stamina is a concern for 35-year-old Alberto Garcia Aspe.

FORWARDS--Blanco and Palencia have benefited from playing overseas and have formed a capable partnership. Both, along with Jared Borgetti, can find the back of the net. Getting them the ball is the issue. Luis Hernandez had an outstanding World Cup in 1998, but age has caught up with him, as Galaxy fans well know. He is Mexico’s all-time scoring leader with 33 goals, but here, at 33, he is a bench player.