Football: Marquez, Blanco lead Mexico against New Zealand

World Cup veterans Rafael Marquez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco will lead Mexico against New Zealand in a friendly tomorrow at the Rose Bowl.

The game is the second in a series of six friendlies in the United States for Mexico, which will open the World Cup against host South Africa on June 11. France and Uruguay also will compete in Group A with Mexico and South Africa.

Marquez, a 31-year-old defender, played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and helped Barcelona become the first Spanish team to win the Champions League, Spanish first division and Copa del Rey titles in one season.

Blanco, who spent three seasons with Major League Football's Chicago Fire, is second in career goals for Mexico's national team with 37.

The 37-year-old forward represented Mexico in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He now plays for Veracruz in Mexico's second division.

Joining Blanco and Marquez are Arsenal forward Carlos Vela, midfielders Andres Guardado from Deportivo La Coruna in Spain and Giovani Dos Santos from Turkey's Galatasaray, and CD Guadalajara forward Javier Hernandez, who leads Mexico's first division with eight goals in seven games.

New Zealand, set to play in its first World Cup this year, will face Mexico without veteran defenders Ryan Nelsen and Ivan Vicelich.

Nelsen, the captain and a member of Blackburn Rovers in England's Premier League, has a hyperextended right knee. Vicelich, who leads New Zealand in all-time appearances with 65, is suspended.

Leading New Zealand is forward Rory Fallon, a regular starter with Plymouth Argyle in England's second division.

Three members of New Zealand's team have American connections: defenders Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls) and Tony Lochhead (UC Santa Barbara) and midfielder Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes). At the World Cup, New Zealand will compete in Group F with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia.