Making a name for himself: Carlos Salcido scored one of the most impressive goals of the entire qualification process

Caps: 69
Goals: 7
World Cup appearances: 4 (2006)
World Cup 2010 qualification: 15 appearances/2 goals

Club: PSV Eindhoven, Holland
Age: 29
Position: Defender

During a semi-final match against Argentina in the 2005 Confederations Cup, Salcido scored a wondrous goal in extra-time after recovering the ball in the Mexico area and driving the whole length of the pitch, dribbling past three defenders and scoring after the shot bounced off Fabricio Coloccini and stranding goalkeeper German Lux.

There are question marks over Salcido's national commitment, though. He declared in 2007 that he would not go with the Mexico team to that year's Copa America because he needed some rest - Mexico ended up in third place, losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.