Soccer-World-Penpix of likely Mexico squad for World Cup finals

MEXICO CITY, April 28 (Reuters) - Mexico's squad for the World Cup finals is likely to comprise the following 23 players: Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul) Age 33; 31 caps. Part of Mexico's 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning team as one of their over-age players, is most likely to be first choice in Brazil. Has overcome disciplinary issues on and off the pitch that kept him out of squad in 2010 and unplayed reserve in Germany in 2006. Has safe hands, excellent reflexes and is good with his feet. Alfredo Talavera (Toluca) Age 31; 17 caps. Spent half a dozen years as former Mexico keeper Oswaldo Sanchez's understudy at Guadalajara where he was part of their title-winning squad in 2006. His move to Toluca in 2009 helped him consolidate career with a league title in 2010. Made his Mexico debut in 2011 helping them win CONCACAF Gold Cup that year. Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio) Age 28; 56 caps. Most capped of Mexico's three keepers who was expected to be first choice at 2010 finals before then-coach Javier Aguirre opted for veteran Oscar Perez. Won league title with Mexico City side America in 2005 before moving to France in 2011. Has been linked with move to Olympique Marseille. Strong on his line and good at launching attacks. Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Leon). Age 35; 120 caps. Going to fourth finals in a row and second as captain, former Monaco, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls centre-back can also play as holding midfielder. Has enjoyed career revival back home at Leon helping them win this season's Apertura (opening) league title in December. Became the first Mexican to earn a European Champions League winner's medal with Barca in 2008. Has excellent positioning and plays fine through-balls. Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America). Age 32; 90 caps. Nicknamed "Maza", short for his home town Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific coast, he uses 1.91m to good effect at centre-back. Began career at Guadalajara and spent five years with PSV Eindhoven then VfB Stuttgart. Returned home in January 2013 and helped America win Clausura (closing) league title last season. Was one of five players in Mexico's 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad to test positive for clenbuterol and withdrawn from the tournament in the U.S.. Later exonerated by FIFA after it was found they had eaten beef contaminated with banned substance. Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America) Age 29; 17 caps. Nicknamed "Topo" (mole), he is one of several players in squad from America team that Mexico's World Cup coach Miguel Herrera steered to Clausura championship last season and this season's Apertura final. Began his career at Atlas in Guadalajara. Diego Reyes (Porto) Age 21; 12 caps. Member of Mexico's Olympic gold medal-winning team at 2012 London Games, joined Porto last year after helping America to last season's Clausura title. Hector Moreno (Espanyol) Age 26; 50 caps. Veteran of 2010 finals and one of half a dozen European-based Mexico players. Began career at UNAM Pumas and moved to AZ Alkmaar in 2007, the year of his international debut. Joined Espanyol in 2011. Paul Aguilar (America) Age 28; 25 caps. Overlapping full-back with strong attacking instincts and a good long-range shot, was in squad at 2010 finals. Won league title with Pachuca in 2007 before moving to America in 2011. Miguel Layun (America) Age 25; 11 caps. Full-back who became first Mexican to play in Italy's Serie A when he joined Atalanta from Veracruz in 2009. Returned home to join America the following year. Miguel Ponce (Toluca) Age 25; 6 caps. California-born left-back who began career at Guadalajara, made his international debut at the 2011 Copa America in Argentina and won gold medal with Mexico at the 2012 Olympics before joining Toluca this year. Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen) Age 27; 99 caps. Fast left-winger and good crosser nicknamed "Principito" (Little Prince). Going to third finals, has played club football in Europe since 2007 at Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia before going to Germany this year on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. Hector Herrera (Porto) Age 24; 10 caps. Busy central midfielder from border town Tijuana who has been called "Zorrillo" (Skunk) and "Zorro" (Fox). Was voted best player at Toulon youth tournament in 2012 and went on to help Mexico win gold at Olympics in London. Went into Champions League record books for earning two yellow cards and a sending-off in 20 seconds during a match at Zenit St Petersburg last year. Juan Carlos Medina (America) Age 30; 6 caps. Nicknamed "Negro", a term of endearment for dark-skinned men in Latin America of non-African origin. Has earned late recognition for Mexico after performances for America under coach Miguel Herrera last year. Carlos Pena (Leon) Age 24; 11 caps. Holding midfielder nicknamed "Gullit" with long black locks and powerful running reminiscent of the Dutch great. Likes to go forward and score goals. Is the hub of Herrera's team having emerged in the Leon side that won promotion last year and went on to win Apertura championship in first half of this season. Luis Montes (Leon) Age 27; 8 caps. Pena's midfield partner at club level and in national team having been propelled into limelight by Leon's recent successes. Made his Mexico debut last July. Isaac Brizuela (Toluca) Age 23; 2 caps. Quick, skilful player good at dribbling past opponents. Progressed to senior Mexico side from the under-23 2012 Olympic gold medal team. Javier Aquino (Villarreal) Age 24; 19 caps. Winger who began career at Cruz Azul and was transferred to Villarreal last year. Another in the squad who tasted Olympic glory in London in 2012 with a 2-1 victory over Brazil. Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos Laguna) Age 30; 30 caps. Predator inside the box who also likes to help out in build-up and works hard defending. As an over-age player, he scored both goals in Mexico's 2-1 win over Brazil in 2012 Olympic final. Scored five of Mexico's nine goals in their 9-3 aggregate playoff victory over New Zealand that booked their ticket to Brazil. Raul Jimenez (America) Age 22; 16 caps. Will always be remembered for spectacular goal he scored with an overhead kick to give Mexico 2-1 home win over Panama in World Cup qualifier in Mexico City in October. Alan Pulido (UANL Tigres) Age 23; 2 caps. Striker with twice as many goals as caps. Scored a hat-trick on his international debut in a 4-0 win over South Korea in a World Cup warm-up in January and found net again as Mexico fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with United States in April. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United) Age 25; 57 caps. Comes from family with rich footballing heritage - grandfather and father played for Mexico. Earned nickname "Little Pea" after his father who was known as "Chicharo" for his green eyes. United striker is going to his second finals as Mexico's third highest scorer of all time with 35 goals, after Jared Borgetti (46) and Cuauhtemoc Blanco (39). Has seen limited action for troubled United this season. Giovani Dos Santos (Villarreal) Age 24; 71 caps. Much-travelled, skilful and diminutive forward born in Monterrey to a Brazilian footballer father. Is a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and Under-17 World Cup winner with Mexico. Has had experience in England for Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town, Galatasaray in Turkey and Racing Santander and Real Mallorca in Spain. Career has been disrupted by injuries but he won Olympic gold in 2012. (Compiled by Carlos Calvo; Writing by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires, editing by Mike Collett)