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Alberto Garcia Aspe

Age: 35 Position: Mid-Fielder Club: Puebla

With Mexico's World Cup qualification campaign in jeopardy newly-installed coach Javier Aguirre immediately re-called Alberto Garcia Aspe to national colours and the midfielder duly lifted his country to qualify for the finals for the 13th time.

Competing in his third World Cup he is the playmaker of the Mexico team in Aguirre's preferred 4-4-2 system and as captain is undisputed team leader - he was recently presented with the national flag by the country's president Vicente Fox.

A fiery charactar, the main weakness in his game is his temper which has earned him numerous red cards in his career.

Showed his Jekyll and Hyde character in the semi-final of last year's Copa America - central Americans Mexico were invitees at the South American tournament.

Having scored the winner from the penalty spot he was then sent off for a needless foul in the closing stages and suspended from the final where Mexico lost to Colombia.

Was also recently dismissed in a friendly with the United States. Likes to unveil message t-shirts when he scores - one during the Copa America had the Virgin Mary on it - but that practice has been recently banned by football chiefs.

Has spent most of his playing career in his homeland but did have a stint in Argentina with famous Buenos Aires club River Plate.