Mexican soccer fans will be watching five key figures during the nation's World Cup campaign.

Fans have pinned hopes on Guillermo Ochoa, goalkeeper at Mexico City club America, to repeat his stellar performance during the qualifying phase.

In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Ochoa played second fiddle to Oswaldo Sanchez but this time round, team manager Javier Aguirre has given him the top position.

His best performance to date was against Costa Rica during the qualifying round when he saved goal after goal, giving the Mexico's strikers to put in the two goals that took the team into the next round.

Aging superstar striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco will also be important to Mexicans, although possibly less important to the final result.

Blanco became a household name when he won the Silver Ball and the Golden Shoes awards in the 1999 Confederations Cup. But he has faded since. After a spell at U.S. soccer team Chicago Fire, he returned to Mexican leagues this year not at the club that made him famous but at second division team Veracruz, where he has failed to shine.

Despite this, Aguirre betted on Blanco as soon as he took over from Sven-Goran Erikson at the helm of the national team, returning the captaincy the striker had during the 2002 World Cup.

What Blanco did not deliver in goals he delivered in morale, motivating the players to better performances that they had during the first part of the qualification campaign.

Two younger players will also draw attention. Andres Guardado, currently dominating the left wing for Spanish team Deportivo La Coruna, most noticed for his speed and striking strength. Although a rare scorer, he is a valued regular for his team, starting in 23 games for the Spanish squad this season, and substituted on in another three.

The team's poster child is Javier Hernandez, better known as "chicharito" (little pea). The 21-year-old is the son of a star from a generation earlier, Javier Hernandez, who was nicknamed "chicharo" (the pea).

Hernandez is already a national hero after becoming the first Mexican signed to English team Manchester United, even though he will not start there until at least July, pending a work permit application.

He has scored four goals from four appearances with the national team, and 11 during 17 appearances this season for his club Guadalajara, better known as Chivas (The Goats).