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Group D Match Preview - Angola V Mexico, Bolton's Borgetti Injured, Angola Unchanged From Portugal Match

Submitted by Matt Vance on Fri, 16/06/2006 - 17:45.

Angola and Mexico play each other in the third game of Group D at the AWD-Arena, Hanover, with Mexico looking for the win that will see them through to the knockout stages. Angola will be looking for a result that will keep them in contention for a top two placing.

Angola received many plaudits following their performance in the 1-0 defeat to Portugal, and coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves is expecting something similar against Mexico.

"My players played with pride but we are a humble team. Our aim is to complicate the life of the major footballing powers here." Goncalves said. "I recognise the Mexicans are strong but we'll be trying to counter-balance a tough adversary."

Goalkeeper Joao Ricardo echoed the sentiments of Goncalves, saying: "The performance has given us confidence for the next game, even though it was a defeat. I think we will be a little more ambitious, a little more positive against Mexico."

Angola midfielder Figueiredo was equally positive: "We want to win the game against Mexico. They are a very strong team, on a par with Portugal, and we respect them. But we don't want another moral victory, we want a real victory with three points," he said.

"We are quite content because we played well enough in the game and we were dignified," he continued. "But we are not totally happy because of the goal. We always want to win and we really wanted to win against Portugal."

Goncalves is expected to field the same 4-5-1 formation that lost to Portugal despite appeals from striker Fabrice Akwa to play a second man up front.

Mexico striker Francisco Fonseca, who replaced the injured Jared Borgetti in the second half of their 3-1 win over Iran, is eager to figure against Angola, but he is happy to leave the decision to coach Ricardo Lavolpe.

Fonseca said: "That decision is made by Ricardo, but I'm ready. I'm ready for whatever he decides - five minutes, 10 minutes, or on the bench. I'm happy with my World Cup debut, and I'm happy my team won.”

Bolton striker Borgetti, who tore a muscle in his left thigh, is expected to miss the rest of the group matches. Although Los Tricolores will miss Borgetti, who has 38 international goals, defender Gonzalo Pineda has confidence in whomever Lavolpe chooses to replace him.

"Borgetti is our forward with the most goals. We lose him; we lose a lot of potential. But Francisco Fonseca, Guillermo Franco, Omar Bravo - those are great players who are waiting for an opportunity and they can do very well," said Pineda.

Team doctor Jose Luis Serrano was cautious about Borgetti’s prospects: "Jared has a grade one muscular injury and we'll test him again in a week. We hope he could be ready for the Portugal match - but we consider it very difficult really," sais Serrano.

Mexico (probable): Sanchez, Mendez, Marquez, Osorio, Salcido, Pineda, Perez, Zinha, Pardo, Franco, Bravo.

Angola (probable): Ricardo, Loco, Jamba, Kali, Delgado, Ze Kalanga, Macanga, Figueiredo, Mateus, Mendonca, Akwa.

Referee: Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)