Also absent for Mexico is defender Efrain Juarez, who is suspended. Juarez, who has been playing as a holding midfielder, is set to be replaced by Israel Castro.

Aguirre is unlikely to make any additional changes to his starting XI.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez is also set to stick with the same starting side that beat South Africa 3-0 last time out. Nicolas Lodeiro returns after a one match ban, but the Ajax midfielder is likely to start on the bench.

Diego Forlan will again support striker Luis Suarez from a more withdrawn role as he did in their last World Cup group game.

KICK-OFF: TUESDAY JUNE 22nd 15:00 GMT

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This means that Nicolas Anelka or Thierry Henry could start upfront on their own in a 4-2-3-1 set up with Abou Diaby and Jeremy Toulalan (who is on a booking) shielding the defence.

Florent Malouda may come in on the left of midfield, replacing Sidney Govou who would drop to the bench.

France have further been hampered by an injury to second choice keeper Cedric Carrasso, who suffered a thigh injury in training.

Mexico boss Javier Aguirre will be pleased that Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez has declared himself 100% fit after suffering a knock in Mexico’s opening match.

Aguirre, however, may drop goalkeeper Oscar Perez in favour of Guillermo Ochoa after a poor display by Perez against South Africa. However, Aguirre has promised that the attacking 4-3-3 formation he used will remain, with Gio Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and Guillermo Franco providing the firepower.

KICK-OFF: THURSDAY JUNE 17th 19:30 GMT

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MEXICO TO WIN THE WORLD CUP: 81.0 at Bet365, Stan James and InterTops

MEXICO TO WIN GROUP A: 4.33 at Stan James and Bet365

MEXICO WORLD CUP BETTING TIPS AND ODDS

As I pointed out in a recent post on my World Cup Blog, Mexico are taking this World Cup Finals extremely seriously. Coach Javier Aguirre has lined up no less than 8 friendlies from the beginning of May until the start of the Finals in June. Presumably the idea is to gel a collection of international players into a cohesive and competitive squad with a better sense of ‘team’ than other competing nations.

Aside from African and South American opposition, Mexico have already outplayed (but lost) England and were narrowly defeated by Holland, with Italy still to come. Frankly, at this point, the actual results are not important – it’s the process of turning a group of players into a well-drilled team. And, remember, these are friendlies.

Traditionally Mexico qualify from the group stages and then go out in the next round (that’s been there record for the last 4 World Cups), but I think they are going to go one better this time.

I guess most commentators would take France to win the Group but I can see Mexico pipping them. At that point, they are set to face one of Argentina, South Korea or Greece. All of whom are beatable.

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Mexico To Be Eliminated At Quarter Finals : 6.50 at Bet365 – Click to bet or register now

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COMPLETE MEXICO PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP 2010

Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez (Chiapas), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara)

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia)

Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray, on loan from Tottenham)

Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista, Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Guillermo Franco (West Ham)

MEXICO WORLD CUP ODDS AND BETTING