Confident Mexico look to upset France

POLOKWANE, South Africa (AP):

A French team in disarray will face a Mexico line-up which is growing in confidence in a Group A match today that could be crucial in determining who progresses in the World Cup.

Mexico scored a late equaliser in the tournament's first match against South Africa, taking some of the gloss off the opening day celebrations for the host nation. France opened later last Friday with a lacklustre scoreless draw against Uruguay that did not encourage anybody except their group rivals.

"They have their names, we have ours. But names don't play, men do," Mexico captain Gerardo Torrado said. "Nothing short of a win is good for us."

France defender Eric Abidal says "things will become even harder if we have a bad result" because the French then have to take on South Africa in their last group game played in front of passionate home supporters.

However, France coach Raymond Domenech's current team seems dispirited and dishevelled amid rumours of a row between the coach and Florent Malouda, tensions between players and the country's sports minister, Rama Yade.

Former captain Zinedine Zidane has criticised the team and dejected fans are starting to lose belief.

"Football is simple. You have to win matches and once you win matches everyone is beautiful and the best friends in the world," Malouda said. "As soon as results become more difficult, you see stories appearing left and right. The only answer is to win games and then everyone will be smiling at you."

Mexico's lively strikers Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos could cause Gallas and Abidal problems with their pace and trickery after combining for some promising moves in the 1-1 draw against South Africa.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre prefers to rely on a settled team and should stick with his three-pronged attack, which has veteran West Ham forward Guillermo Franco holding the central role and with Vela and Dos Santos out wide.