Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez might have his job on the line today when his team faces Ghana in a friendly international.
The former Real Madrid striker, who took over at Mexico a few months after the 2006 World Cup, has come under scrutiny at home since failing to qualify the under-23 team for this year's Beijing Olympics.
After today's match at Craven Cottage, the home of Premier League team Fulham, the Mexican federation is expected to make a decision on Sanchez's future.
Sanchez promised to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup when he took over as coach, but Mexico lost to the United States in the 2007 final. He also came close a month later at the Copa America, losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.
Against Ghana, Mexico will have 10 European-based players in his squad, including Manchester City forward Nery Castillo and Guillermo Franco of Villarreal.
Giovani Dos Santos, the 18-year-old FC Barcelona forward, will be missing because of an injury, however.
From the locally based players, Sanchez called up midfielder Antonio Naelson and goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.
Ghana, which reached the semi-finals at this year's African Cup of Nations as the host nation, is expected to have Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah in its team.
Ghana coach Claude Le Roy, who is preparing his team for its opening World Cup qualifying match against Libya, said his team will not be taking the match lightly.
''We consider every game very important and if you know Mexico's worth and strength, then you would not want to say it is just another friendly game,'' Le Roy said.
Ghana are four-time African Cup champions, and the team became a fan-favourite at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with their fast-paced game. The Black Stars made it through a tough group stage but lost to Brazil in the second round.
Mexico also reached the second round in Germany, but again lost to Argentina.
Sanchez signed a four-year contract to coach Mexico in November 2006, and part of his duties included coaching the under-23 team. But playing without Dos Santos, the team lost to Guatemala for the first time in 40 years of Olympic qualifying and ended up tied for second in the group, missing out on the semi-finals.
Despite the setback, Sanchez remained positive.
"I have a contract signed until 2010, with the South African World Cup,'' Sanchez said recently. "This has been a major failure, but I'm waiting for the final exam in 2010.''
Mexico will play either Belize or St Kitts and Nevis in World Cup qualifying in June.
The failure to qualify for Beijing came as a surprise in Mexico because many of the players were on the team that won the 2005 under-17 World Cup in Peru and reached the quarter-finals at last year's under-20 Word Cup in Canada.
Mexico and Ghana have faced each other once before, with the Mexicans winning 1-0 in March 2006 in Houston.
Axe hanging over Mexico's Sanchez
Mexico's coach Hugo Sanchez. - file
LONDON (AP)
Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez might have his job on the line today when his team faces Ghana in a friendly international.
The former Real Madrid striker, who took over at Mexico a few months after the 2006 World Cup, has come under scrutiny at home since failing to qualify the under-23 team for this year's Beijing Olympics.
After today's match at Craven Cottage, the home of Premier League team Fulham, the Mexican federation is expected to make a decision on Sanchez's future.
Sanchez promised to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup when he took over as coach, but Mexico lost to the United States in the 2007 final. He also came close a month later at the Copa America, losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.
Against Ghana, Mexico will have 10 European-based players in his squad, including Manchester City forward Nery Castillo and Guillermo Franco of Villarreal.
Giovani Dos Santos, the 18-year-old FC Barcelona forward, will be missing because of an injury, however.
From the locally based players, Sanchez called up midfielder Antonio Naelson and goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.
Ghana, which reached the semi-finals at this year's African Cup of Nations as the host nation, is expected to have Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah in its team.
Ghana coach Claude Le Roy, who is preparing his team for its opening World Cup qualifying match against Libya, said his team will not be taking the match lightly.
''We consider every game very important and if you know Mexico's worth and strength, then you would not want to say it is just another friendly game,'' Le Roy said.
Ghana are four-time African Cup champions, and the team became a fan-favourite at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with their fast-paced game. The Black Stars made it through a tough group stage but lost to Brazil in the second round.
Mexico also reached the second round in Germany, but again lost to Argentina.
Sanchez signed a four-year contract to coach Mexico in November 2006, and part of his duties included coaching the under-23 team. But playing without Dos Santos, the team lost to Guatemala for the first time in 40 years of Olympic qualifying and ended up tied for second in the group, missing out on the semi-finals.
Despite the setback, Sanchez remained positive.
"I have a contract signed until 2010, with the South African World Cup,'' Sanchez said recently. "This has been a major failure, but I'm waiting for the final exam in 2010.''
Mexico will play either Belize or St Kitts and Nevis in World Cup qualifying in June.
The failure to qualify for Beijing came as a surprise in Mexico because many of the players were on the team that won the 2005 under-17 World Cup in Peru and reached the quarter-finals at last year's under-20 Word Cup in Canada.
Mexico and Ghana have faced each other once before, with the Mexicans winning 1-0 in March 2006 in Houston.