Mexico head coach Ricardo la Volpe has controversially excluded striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco as the team began a pre-World Cup training camp on Wednesday.

Blanco, who is arguably Mexico's most creative player, was excluded from the provisional 26-man squad named on April 2 from which coach Ricardo La Volpe will pick his final 23 players.

His exclusion has caused an uproar amongst Mexico fans, but the team refuse to be affected by the exclusion.

“There are always going to be problems, things which some say and things which others say but we have to make sure they don't affect us and stay concentrated,” said defender Carlos Salcido.

Fellow defender Andres Guardado added: “I don't see why this should affect us. It's an off-field problem and we have come to work and focus on our jobs and not get involved in things which aren't our business.”

About 200 demonstrators marched through Mexico City to the Mexican Football Federation's headquarters on Tuesday to demand that Blanco be added to Mexico's World Cup squad.

Blanco, a key player for Mexico in the last two World Cup Finals, was not included in the provisional 26-man roster announced by coach Ricardo Lavolpe last week.

Lavolpe, an Argentinean, says Blanco does not fit it into his "football system”. Blanco, who is known for his caustic comments on and off the field, claims that he has been left out because of a personal grudge.

But La Volpe, who says Blanco's exclusion is purely tactical, has insisted that no new players will be added to his squad.

Blanco, who has never been on good terms with the Argentine coach, appeared to seal his fate last year when he pulled out of the Confederations Cup squad on the eve of the tournament, saying he was tired.

He has only been picked once since.

La Volpe has caused further controversy by picking two naturalised players, Brazilian-born Antonio Naelson and Argentine-born Guillermo Franco, as well as his own son-in-law, midfielder Rafael Garcia.

Mexico have been drawn in Group D in the World Cup Finals and face Portugal, Iran and Angola in their first-round.

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