JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Mexico forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the oldest field player at the World Cup, still has the ability to add a spark of genius when he is in the game.
At 37, Blanco no longer has the speed he once used to leave defenders behind. He's packed on some weight. Nevertheless, he will try to help his country get past the quarterfinals, the farthest the team has reached at a World Cup.
Blanco wrote to his fans on his website that "I'm going for you" and that all the hard work Mexico has put in before the tournament will be reflected Friday in the opening match against South Africa at Soccer City.
There are only four players older than Blanco at the World Cup, all goalkeepers.
The forward, who has been without a club since playing for Mexican second division Veracruz last season, will be playing in his third World Cup after being part of the 1998 and 2002 tournaments.
Blanco was not chosen for Ricardo La Volpe's squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Both men feuded since they shared the dressing room with the America club in Mexico.
He has also played for Necaxa and the Chicago Fire, where it appeared his career would end. But he came out of a five-month retirement and was recalled to the national team after good performances in the United States.
Blanco played an important role in the qualifiers for Mexico, but he has been on bench in recent matches, while showing flashes of his old self.
In a friendly against Italy last week, Blanco's 30-yard cross found Alberto Medina, who scored in Mexico's 2-1 victory.
"On the pitch, we are 11 against 11 and we are going to win," he said. "We are only thinking of that."
