5. Mexico
The 1970 and 1986 World Cups quarter-finalists are in real danger of not making it for next summer's tournament. In fact, only a late overhead kick by Raúl Jiménez in the crucial 2-1 win over Panama kept alive Mexico's hopes of reaching next summer's tournament at all. Having qualified consecutively since 1994, Víctor Manuel Vucetich's side find themselves fourth place in the CONCACAF qualifying group, behind USA, Costa Rica and Honduras. The former two have already secured their place at next summer's tournament, and the Mexicans need to get at least a point out of their game with second placed Costa Rica tomorrow evening to wrap up fourth spot. That would see them enter a two-legged play-off round against New Zealand next month, though El Tricolor could still secure their passage to Brazil next summer if they beat Costa Rica and Honduras lose in Jamaica. Star Performer(s): Raúl Jiménez, Javier Hernandez
Joseph Dempsey
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Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
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