World Cup preview: Mexico's success relies on overcoming round of 16 woes

Will this be the year that Mexico ends its round of 16 misery?

After qualifying with three matches to spare, Juan Carlos Osorio's side is bursting with the confidence of a team that's built for an extended journey in Russia, and is hoping to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the World Cup in 1986.

If the club is unable to make it out of the first knockout round, Mexico will see its journey end in the round of 16 for the seventh consecutive time.

Group stage schedule

Projected starting XI

The formation Juan Carlos Osorio elects to employ may depend on the quality of opponent, though the Colombian manager has appeared to prefer a 4-3-3 that often enjoys a majority of possession in the attacking half.

The team's biggest weakness has appeared to be the deep-lying shortcomings of the midfielders, who fail to read certain situations and are unable to judge when to press up the pitch without leaving the backline out to dry.

Mexico's strength is in its gifted attack, with the country's leading scorer Javier Hernandez starring in a forward scheme that also features a handful of accomplished stars in Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos.

Related: Full squad lists for each nation

Manager: Juan Carlos Osorio

Juan Carlos Osorio's desire to rotate his squad will likely continue in Russia, as the animated Colombian manager has yet to field identical teams in consecutive matches since succeeding Miguel Herrera in 2015.

Inconsistency in the starting XI has yet to have a significant negative impact on North America's top team, as Osorio's quick-attacking style has produced positive results in the buildup to the World Cup. However, the final warm-up loss to Denmark undoubtedly leaves a bitter taste in Osorio's mouth ahead of a tournament that could have negative implications on his career as the national team's manager with a poor showing.

Key player: Carlos Vela

If Carlos Vela's form for Los Angeles FC is anything to go by, Mexico's attack will be on par with some of the World Cup's top teams. Since returning from his self-imposed hiatus from the national team in 2014, the 29-year-old forward scored eight goals, including a trio of markers to help Mexico qualify as the top club out of CONCACAF. The prospect of Vela forming a cohesive partnership in attack with either Hernandez or Dos Santos could result in Mexico having one of the most potent attacks at the World Cup.

Breakout star: Hirving Lozano

Interest in Hirving Lozano is bound to pick up in the aftermath of a successful World Cup for El Tri's most promising young star. The PSV Eindhoven player enters the tournament with a chance to become one of the brightest prospects to shine in Russia after wrapping up a superb season that saw him find the back of the net 19 times in all competitions.

At 22 years old, "El Chucky" has already developed into Mexico's most important player, though his full arsenal of skills may be restricted with the national team compared to the freedom he enjoyed during PSV Eindhoven's title-winning season.

Fans should be happy if...

It's quarter-finals or bust. After 24 years of bowing out immediately after the group stage, anything less than a place in the last eight will be a disaster for the supremely proud football nation.

However, getting past the opening stage of the tournament in Russia is by no means a guarantee. Mexico is tasked with navigating past a tricky group comprised of world champion Germany, a complicated test against South Korea, and a Swedish squad that enters the tournament on a high after upsetting Italy in a play-off to qualify.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)