Guadalajara, Mexico, Jul 2 (EFE).- Mexican defender Hector Moreno, who plays for Spanish League club Espanyol, successfully underwent surgery on his left leg, Dr. Rafael Ortega said.

"We are completely convinced that he is going to come back and to come back really good," the surgeon said in a press conference.

Moreno underwent surgery on Tuesday in Guadalajara, the capital of the western state of Jalisco.

Ortega, director of medical services for Guadalajara club Chivas, said Moreno would be ready to take the field in about six months.

Moreno broke his left leg during Mexico's loss to the Netherlands in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

The 26-year-old Espanyol defender collided with Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben during the game, which the Netherlands won 2-1.

Moreno will be contacting Espanyol's management to determine where he will undergo rehabilitation, Ortega said.

The player could do his rehab at a facility in Guadalajara or in Culiacan, his hometown and the capital of Sinaloa state, the doctor said.

"We are going to speak with Hector, also with Espanyol's doctor, and we are going to speak with the national team's medical unit to see what's best and to see if possibly the initial phase (can be) spent in the place he is from," Ortega said.

[readon1 url="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/140702/mexicos-moreno-undergoes-successful-leg-operation"]Source:www.globalpost.com[/readon1]

It’s true that many supercar fans share their taste with some sports such as football, but for those that don’t feel quite attracted to it there are always some other things to do during the weekend like, say taking your car out for a morning cruise.

Some members of the Audi R8 and Porsche clubs reunited this time in Puebla, Mexico to do just that and we got a ride to capture these wonderful images for you. Two Audi R8 V10s arrived, one of those being a V10 Plus, as well as a supercharged 996 Carrera 4S, a 996 Turbo, and a 997 and 991 Carrera S Porsches. Being a small group made thing easier since the improvised route presented little traffic and they could stay close to each other for a better highway speeding experience. That’s of course illegal, don’t try it at home.

Going back and forth to Cuautla proved to be quite fascinating because of the lack of other drivers since the Mexico vs Netherlands game was on, and great times went by when pushing both VAG cousins to their limits trying to find which was better at attacking corners at high speed. Averaging 250 km/h, the route didn’t last more than twenty minutes on each side so the drivers decided to repeat the whole trail one more time.

It is a great thing to share a passion for something, some enjoy football games but these mad man love racing with their friends in amazing cars. The way a 996 Carrera 4S could stick right at an R8s tail was true testimony of how many hours has the owner spent perfecting his technique at the track, and how well those cars were designed and built back then.

When flooring it on a long straight, the R8 V10 Plus stayed a couple cars space ahead the normal V10, but once getting to the corners their performance was similar. The 991 Carrera S showed the magic of the latest chassis and all the tune that has been put together to create a magnificent daily driver that can put those V10s at serious trouble when it hits the rev limiter.

We’re glad there’s always a supercar fan enjoying his or her car and sharing it with us, and this time is no exception. By the way, which of those would you have chosen if given the chance to race against the others? Feel free to comment, leave your thoughts and share with your friends this exclusive gallery.

Audi VS Porsche no football

[readon1 url="http://www.gtspirit.com/2014/06/30/audi-and-porsche-club-members-cruise-in-mexico/"]Source:www.gtspirit.com[/readon1]

Controversial penalty call leads to Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s winning goal in stoppage time.

FORTALEZA, BRAZIL—The Dutch were worried about the oppressive heat at Arena Castelao, and they left it with the stifling hot conditions to thank for a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

An inspired tactical change during the second of two official stoppages led to a late goal from Netherlands forward Wesley Sneijder and a penalty in injury time from Klaas Jan Huntelaar in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mexico on Sunday.

“I moved to ‘Plan B’ at the cooling break,” said Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, soon to be the manager at Manchester United. “That is a good way to take advantage of those breaks.”

Despite scoring 10 goals in three group matches, the Dutch again started the match with a defensive 5-3-2 system. Van Gaal made the switch to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation in the second half and tweaked it further when referee Pedro Proenca stopped the match in the 76th minute to allow players to rehydrate.

That helped turn the match around and extend Mexico’s second-round curse to six straight World Cups.

“Unbelievable,” said Arjen Robben, the Netherlands forward that earned the late penalty. “Five minutes from full time, we were out.”

Instead of the Dutch players, it was the Mexicans who wilted in the heat as they conceded twice as many goals in the final minutes of the match as they had in the entire group stage.

“The humidity was against us, but we were fresher and fitter than the Mexicans,” Van Gaal said. “Yes, we escaped. But we showed that we could create more chances with 4-3-3, and the players handled this shift very well.”

The Dutch will next face Costa Rica in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Salvador, and may have to play without midfielder Nigel de Jong, who was substituted in the ninth minute with a groin injury.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, one of the most popular characters at the World Cup because of his emotive ways on the sidelines, blamed Proenca for the loss and accused Robben of diving under a challenge from Rafael Marquez to earn the penalty.

“Today it was the man with the whistle who eliminated us from the World Cup,” Herrera said. “If a referee invents a penalty, you’re out of the World Cup.

“I hope they have a look at what happened and that this gentleman goes home just like we are.”

Marquez said Robben admitted that it was a bad call, but added that the Dutchman thought he should have been awarded a spot kick for an earlier challenge.

“I spoke with him after the match and he told me that it was not a penalty,” Marquez said. “He said that the first foul was a penalty and that one was not called.”

Mexico has now advanced to the second round at the World Cup six straight times and not reached the quarter-finals. The last time the team made it that far was as host of the 1986 tournament.

Giovani Dos Santos gave the Mexicans the lead in the 48th minute after a scoreless first half, but Sneijder equalized with a hard shot in the 88th minute.

It was the first time Sneijder, who scored five goals at the last World Cup in South Africa, had found the net in Brazil.

Robben, who has already scored three goals for the Dutch at this year’s tournament, then earned the penalty in the fourth minute of injury time but he handed the ball to Huntelaar.

“You don’t know when your chance will come, but it was today, and so you grab it with both hands,” said Huntelaar, who replaced captain Robin van Persie in the 76th minute. “And it was fantastic.”

For Mexico, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was again the star player, pulling off two more great saves after playing a key role in holding Brazil to a 0-0 draw in Group A.

But he couldn’t block Sneijder’s shot and guessed wrong when diving in an attempt to stop Huntelaar’s penalty.

“It isn’t easy to go out this way, the way this match went,” Ochoa said. “It’s just very hard to deal with when victory escapes you this way.”

[readon1 url="http://www.thestar.com/sports/worldcup/2014/06/29/world_cup_netherlands_beats_mexico_to_advance.html"]Source:www.thestar.com[/readon1]

The reaction after Arjen Robben drew a penalty in the final minutes. (Getty Images)

FINAL SCORE: Netherlands 2, Mexico 1 (Dos Santos 48', Sneijder 88', Huntellar 90')

FINAL: What a turn of events. Netherlands scores twice in the final eight minutes to go from being sent home to advancing to the quarterfinals.

This looked like a sure Mexico victory heading into the final minutes. In the first half, Mexico had most of the better chances. Netherlands' star striker duo of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie couldn't get any space or any opportunities, and Mexico was looking threatening from outside the box and on the counterattack.

In the second half, Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring with a beautiful strike from outside the box to give Mexico a 1-0 lead. Netherlands began to push forward more and more, bringing on Memphis Depay for a defender, and winning corner kicks and attempting dangerous crosses. The Dutch did not look they were going to break through, especially with Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa putting on a show once again. And then Netherlands brought off van Persie, an interesting decision given how talented RVP can be in the final third.

A 10th corner kick ended up paying off for the Dutch, though, as a header fell to the feet of Wesley Sneijder, who buried it past Ochoa to tie the game in the 88th minute. Mexico looked relegated to play for extra time, but Netherlands was looking to end it in regulation. Arjen Robben, who had created plenty of chances in the second half, took it to the endline against multiple Mexico defenders -- and then cut back, before falling as Rafa Marquez stuck his leg out and nipped Robben's foot. The debate on whether it was a dive will not end anytime soon.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar buried the penalty and Netherlands was up 2-1. That would be the final score, as Mexico was devastated. El Tri have now been knocked out six straight times in the Round of 16.

Netherlands will play the winner of Costa Rica vs. Greece.

90' + 5 -- Prior to the penalty, Rafa Marquez and Andres Guardado were both given yellow cards. Marquez would theoretically miss the next match if Mexico can somehow win.

90' + 4 -- GOAL! Klaas-Jan Huntelaar buries the penalty as Guillermo Ochoa guesses wrong.

[readon1 url="http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24599414/fifa-world-cup-mexico-vs-netherlands-preview"]Source:www.cbssports.com[/readon1]

Mexico faces the high-scoring Dutch after only conceding once during the group stage, beating Cameroon 1-0 before holding Brazil to a 0-0 draw, after an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, and then defeating Croatia 3-1.

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — Mexico coach Miguel Herrera will make one change to his starting lineup to face the Netherlands in the World Cup second round — and says his team is “ready to make history” on Sunday.

Versatile midfielder Carlos Salcido will replace suspended Jose Juan Vazquez in Fortaleza, Herrera said on Saturday, while Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez is set to stay keep his role as a second-half substitute.

Herrera believes his side can end Mexico’s dismal run of five consecutive failures to reach the quarterfinals at a World Cup, a feat it last achieved in 1986.

“We have a great atmosphere and a great attitude going into this game, and that is key. But we also have to play very well because we are facing a very difficult opponent,” Herrera said.

“Do we believe this could be Mexico’s World Cup? Yes, more than ever. We are very convinced that this time will be different for us, and we are ready to make history.”

 Mexico faces the high-scoring Dutch after only conceding once during the group stage, beating Cameroon 1-0 before holding Brazil to a 0-0 draw, after an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, and then defeating Croatia 3-1.

Mexican fans are making their second trip to this northeastern city for the World Cup, having previously watched the 0-0 draw with Brazil. They gathered to welcome the players arrive late Friday — with their now-familiar chants of “Oribe Peralta,” after the team’s popular star.

Herrera, who rescued Mexico from qualification turmoil, has proved popular with the fans with his highly demonstrative style, which is being contrasted with his dour-looking Dutch opponent Louis van Gaal.

“I can’t compare myself with Mr. Van Gaal. He’s done such outstanding things, and its an honor to play against him .. This is my first World Cup,” Herrera said.

 “Everyone has their own style, and I think our style has also been successful. The yelling and passion on the bench is contagious: See how the players run, right, and give everything they’ve got ... Tomorrow we will leave our hearts on the pitch.”

Van Gaal returned the compliment, when asked about Herrera’s style.

“I have to say I like it. I like it if a coach lives with the team like that,” he said. “I saw an interview with him and he also has sensible things to say. What more could you want?”

Appointed to start next season as Manchester United manager, Van Gaal could end up watching Dutch star Robin van Persie take on his Old Trafford teammate Hernandez at Arena Castelao in Sunday’s game.

[readon1 url="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/mexico-coach-miguel-herrera-el-tri-ready-history-article-1.1848408"]Source:www.nydailynews.com[/readon1]

The world premiere of Alex de la Iglesia’s documentary about Argentine soccer great Lionel Messi is set for next Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

The film includes new footage shot in Buenos Aires and Messi’s hometown of Rosario as well as images, video and audio that go back to the future superstar’s childhood, production company Mediapro said.

Messi, who turned 27 this week, won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best soccer player four years in a row and in 2012 set a new record for most goals in a calendar year.

He has scored four goals in three matches for Argentina in this year’s World Cup, leading the squad into the knockout stage.

Signed by FC Barcelona at the age of 13, he joined the club’s first team 10 years ago and is already the storied franchise’s all-time leading scorer, with 371 goals in 453 appearances.

The film, “Messi,” features interviews with some of his Barça teammates, Argentine national coach Alejandro Sabella and Messi’s compatriot Diego Maradona, regarded as one of the best ever to play the game.

[readon1 url="http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/latino-daily-news/details/lionel-messi-documentary-to-premiere-july-2-in-rio/30361/"]Source:www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com[/readon1]

The second round of the World Cup begins on Saturday, and the rules of the game change a little. The next stage is often referred to as “knockout round” because every match is lose-and-go-home.

Games that end in a tie go to overtime, which consists of two 15-minute periods with a short break in between. If a game is still tied at the end of overtime, the winner is determined by a penalty kick shootout—in which each team gets five penalty kicks and the one that converts the most wins. (In case of a tie in penalty kicks, each side kicks one more until the tie is broken.)

In any event, a number of teams have already qualified for the Round of 16, and a fairly clear picture of who will play whom can be drawn. Those that are through are: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Mexico, The Netherlands and Uruguay.

Sat. June 28:
Brazil vs. Chile, 12 p.m., Belo Horizonte
Colombia vs. Uruguay, 4 p.m., Rio de Janeiro

Sun. June 29:
The Netherlands vs. Mexico, 12 p.m., Fortaleza
Costa Rica vs. Greece, 4 p.m., Recife

Mon. June 30:
France# vs. Nigeria#, 12 p.m., Brasilia
Germany# vs. Algeria#, 4 pm., Porto Alegre

Tue. July 1:
Argentina* vs. Ecuador or Switzerland, 12 p.m., São Paulo
Belgium* vs. USA#, 4 p.m., Salvador

*Already qualified, most likely position
# Most likely qualifier

[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2014/06/24/confused-about-next-stage-world-cup-heres-your-guide-to-round-16/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

On Thursday, FIFA banned the Uruguayan striker Luís Suárez for the remainder of the World Cup and beyond for having bitten the Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder in the teams' last group stage match.

Suarez was fined for four months for the bite and fined the Liverpool striker 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

The incident took place in the 80th minute of the game. Television replays showed the two jostling for position near the Italian goal, when Suárez brought his head down near Chiellini’s left shoulder.

"Such behavior cannot be tolerated on any football pitch and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup, when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said in a statement.

The Uruguayan soccer federation and its managers have steadfastly defended Suárez. Some have even suggested that the photos of Chiellini's shoulder showing the mark have been retouched.

No foul was called by the game’s referee and play resumed with Uruguayan captain Diego Godín scoring the match’s only goal about a minute later.

The win qualified the South American team for the Round of 16, setting up a Saturday showdown against Colombia.

For his part, Suárez said, “These situations happen on the field. I had contact with his shoulder, nothing more, things like that happen all the time."

FIFA released a statement explaining, “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is responsible for sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials attention.”

Suárez and the Uruguayan team were asked to make available any evidence they had in the matter by Wednesday at 4 p.m., Eastern time.

This is not the first time that the talented but troubled striker’s mouth has gotten him into trouble.

In 2010, when he played for Ajax in the Dutch Eredvisie. He bit PSV Eindhoven's Ottman Bakkal during a 0-0 draw, earning himself the nickname, “The Cannibal of Ajax.” He was given a 7-game suspension by the league.

Two years later, with his current team Liverpool in the Premier League, he was banned for 8 games for making disparaging racial comments to Patrice Evra of Manchester United.

In 2013, he missed 10 Premier League games after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2014/06/26/fifa-issues-punishment-with-teeth-uruguay-luis-suarez-out-games-four-months-for/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

The Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation is hosting a Youth Soccer Tournament over the Fourth of July weekend that will include a team of 12-year-old players from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, one the community’s kindred cities.

The Puerto Vallarta team will be accompanied by members of the Puerto Vallarta Sister City Committee and parents of some children participating in the tournament.

Guests from Puerto Vallarta will march with the Sister Cities Foundation in the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade. During their stay, they also will be escorted on a tour of Chicago and participate in other local events.

Other teams participating in the tournament include Deportivo Highland Park, a team formed by the Hispanic community in Highland Park and Highwood; AYSO Highland Park; Lake Forest Select and Chicago Fire Juniors.

Games will be played starting at 9 a.m. July 5 and  6 at Olson Park located on Ridge Road north of Deerfield Road.

Parent Power Chicago, a nonprofit organization, is the event sponsor.  Bernardi Securities is the Puerto Vallarta team sponsor.

“We’ve had a great response from the Mexican community locally,” said Richard Wolfe, a vice president of the Sister Cities Foundation for the Puerto Vallartan connection. “People want to come out and see how the Puerto Vallarta team plays because they have such good players at 12 years old.”

The Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation was founded in 1989 to further global understanding through people-to-people exchanges. In addition to Puerto Vallarta, Highland Park is a Sister City to Modena, Italy, Yerucham, and Israel.

[readon1 url="http://highlandpark.suntimes.com/2014/06/25/youth-soccer-tourney-feature-puerto-vallartan-guests/"]Source:highlandpark.suntimes.com[/readon1]

RECIFE, Brazil (AP) - One of the first things Miguel Herrera did when he became Mexico's fourth coach in a year was call Rafael Marquez and ask the 35-year-old defender known as "the boss" to return to the national side as captain.

On Monday, the world saw why.

Marquez's pivotal goal from a header in the 72nd minute ignited a scoring burst, and Mexico surged into the World Cup's knockout stage for a sixth straight time with a 3-1 triumph over Croatia.

"I did not hesitate one minute after my talk with him to appoint him captain," Herrera said of Marquez, now in his fourth World Cup. "He's had many achievements in his career, personally, but he's also provided leadership to the team, that soundness, and that is why they call him the boss."

Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in a 10-minute span in the second half, dooming a talented Croatia side to elimination from the group stage.

The Croats had to win to advance and held the bulk of possession, but had trouble seriously threatening goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who kept out all efforts until an 87th-minute consolation goal from Ivan Perisic.

Mexico entered the game needing only a draw, but played aggressively and looked dangerous in attack even before breaking through. The result gave Mexico a second-place finish behind Brazil in Group A and set up a second-round meeting with Group B winner the Netherlands.

"We overcame the first hurdle," Miguel Herrera said, adding that the team would dine with their families in Recife later Monday night. "We're going to celebrate tonight but tomorrow we have to start thinking of our match with the Netherlands."

Marquez, who had scored in Germany in 2006 and South Africa four years ago, made it three straight World Cups with a goal by beating Croatia defender Vedran Corluka to head home Hector Herrera's corner.

"They wanted him to retire, and look at him," Guardado said. "He plays like he's 23"

Three minutes later, Guardado found the net with a hard, left-footed, one-time shot after a cross from Oribe Peralta.

Then in the 82nd, Hernandez, the popular Manchester United striker who has been a second-half substitute in all three of Mexico's matches, scored with a header after Herrera's corner had glanced off the head of Marquez.

"Mexico was equal in the first half. We tried to (attack) and left spaces in the second half," Croatia defender Danijel Pranjic said. "They scored on set plays and Marquez killed us."

Croatia didn't score until it was too late, with Perisic sliding a shot past Ochoa after being set up by a neat backheel pass from Ivan Rakitic.

"It's a moot point whether we should have kept it nil-nil until the last 10 minutes and then go all out on the attack," Croatia coach Niko Kovac said. "We decided to attack earlier, but it wasn't successful."

Croatia's late goal was the first Mexico has conceded in the World Cup, but "El Tri" hardly seemed to mind when the final whistle sounded and a lively, heavily Mexican crowd in Arena Pernambuco erupted.

"Today we felt as if we were playing at home in Mexico," Miguel Herrera said.

Mexico appeared to be laboring through a downspell before this World Cup. It struggled just to qualify out of CONCACAF and fired three coaches in a year's time before Miguel Herrera rescued Mexico's hopes. El Tri made it to Brazil as CONCACAF's fourth team after soundly beating New Zealand in a last-chance qualifier.

Marquez was quick to credit his energetic coach for unifying the national team in a way he'd never seen before.

"Officials, the coaches, the players have shown this unity and it is quite important," Marquez said. "We've shown this on the pitch and off, and that is why we have such a sound, robust group. We get along very well. ... We're all united. We're working together, and therefore you work comfortably, with joy."

Known as a coach of the people for the way he engages fans on social media and at times in public, Herrera implored the Mexico faithful to "stay together" and sing the national anthem "like never before."

Mexican fans, whose green jerseys distinguished them as the overwhelming majority in the crowd, belted out a thunderous rendition.

Croatia players were heckled each time they took a corner kick, as was goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa when he touched the ball.

Mexico's counterattacks only further enlivened the crowd, particularly a sizzling 25-yard shot by Hector Herrera that rattled the crossbar in the 16th minute.

[readon1 url="http://www.8newsnow.com/story/25848936/mexico-beats-croatia-3-1-advances-in-world-cup"]Source:www.8newsnow.com[/readon1]

She’s ranked No. 1 on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour, where she boasts 34-tournament and 137-match winning streaks.

ATLANTA, U.S.A. – At times, Paola Longoria makes her sport look easy.

The petite Mexican star, all 5-feet-5 of her, has spent the better part of six years on a dominant rise to the No. 1 ranking for the international Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour, where she boasts eye-popping, 34-tournament and 137-match winning streaks. Her gold medal haul from the world's top tournaments grows yearly.

It wasn’t always that way, though.

During a visit to the United States for a May 24-25 clinic, Longoria discussed her early days on the professional tour when she was a teenager barely getting into tournaments and regularly drawing the highest-seeded players in the field.

“When I got to tournaments I was always playing the No. 1 or No. 2,” said Longoria, who was born in San Luis Potosí and now lives in Monterrey, where she attends college. “I had to call and say, ‘Mom I already lost.’ Over time, I improved my level and now I’m No. 1 and very happy about that.

“But it was tough being a professional at first. When I got to the tournaments and lost in the first round, it seemed like I spent more time on flights than on courts. It was kind of funny. Those experiences you learn from and that makes you stronger with more experience.”

Longoria, who turns 25 in July, is the most accomplished player in the world, as well as an ambassador for her sport – in Mexico and beyond.

She was presented with the 2010 National Sports Award for her performance and lifetime achievement – prompting then-Mexican president Felipe Calderón to compare her racquetball contributions to those of the legendary Lorena Ochoa in golf. She also earned a spot on Forbes’ 2013 list of the 50 most influential women in Mexico, alongside figures like actress Salma Hayek, Calderón’s wife Margarita Zavala and singer Paulina Rubio.

“I was very happy,” said Longoria, her smile growing wider as she discusses the ranking. “It’s for the way your career is going, the way you’re an example for the young kids. It was a great experience to be in there with all these powerful women. Forbes is big in Mexico and around the world. It was nice to share my experiences with people who read the magazine, to let them know that my career wasn’t easy. They didn’t give me everything. I worked really hard to get to the top of the rankings and I want to stay No. 1.”

The journey to No. 1 began when Longoria was an 8-year-old participant at a sports camp that included racquetball. The smaller racquet suited her tiny frame better than that of a more popular option, tennis, and the idea of playing an indoor sport appealed to her.

From there, a racquetball pioneer began to emerge and a run of junior world championships ensued. She won her first U.S. Open at just 18, becoming both the event’s youngest and first Mexican winner.

After that breakthrough win, she moved for a year to the city of Sacramento in the U.S. state of California to play in tournaments more frequently and work on her game.

“[Back then], racquetball wasn’t a big deal where I’m from, honestly,” Longoria said. “When I started playing racquetball, I didn’t think it would be a huge deal like it is now. Knowing my government right now supports the racquetball program a lot and they treat us the same as athletes who have Olympic sports, that is very nice to have that support. In past years, they haven’t had tournaments in Mexico. Right now because I’ve been No. 1 for three years and undefeated, the government said it would be good to see me play in my home country. We have a tournament in Toluca, another one in Mexico City and one is my invitational in Monterrey.”

The support from Mexico fuels Longoria when she competes for her country internationally, which she has done very well throughout her young career.

She won the gold medal in singles at the last World Championships in 2012, a first for a Mexican woman, in addition to repeating as doubles champion with partner Samantha Salas. She takes the court for Mexico again June 14-21 at this year’s World Championships in Canada.

“It’s very special to represent my country,” Longoria said. “To go to other countries and play for Mexico, I’m very proud of that. I’m proud to be part of the Mexican team. When you’re playing in World or Pan American Games to win gold for your country, it means a lot for them, for the way my team and my country support me.”

Another type of support comes from a lengthy list of sponsors, from companies like Head, Oakley and Nike. Then comes the backing of her immediate team – coach, trainer, sports psychologist, doctor and therapist.

All together, they help Longoria keep racquetball moving smoothly so she can tackle other goals.

One of those is her education. She graduated last year with a college degree in engineer and mechanic administration and began working on a master’s degree. She currently mixes her graduate studies with racquetball, creating a hectic schedule.

“To have the ability to promote my sport more on TV, in newspapers, is important,” Longoria said. “This sport could be in the Olympics because it’s really fast. It’s a very extreme sport. My work is to promote this sport more all the time and try to increase the level of play on the tour. I try to improve the juniors program in Mexico with clinics, tips and playing with the kids. I want to share the experiences from all the years I’ve been playing the sport. It’s nice how they support the juniors program in Mexico. They’re the future of the sport.”

Longoria is racquetball’s present, and she doesn’t plan on slowing down soon. Her goal is to stay atop her sport – not as easy a feat as she makes it look.

“Now that I’m No. 1, you have the pressure to keep winning,” she said. “All the girls want to be you and break your record. But I like the pressure. It keeps me motivated to keep working hard.”

[readon1 url="http://infosurhoy.com/en_GB/articles/saii/features/sports/2014/05/30/feature-02"]Source:infosurhoy.com[/readon1]

Mexico is responsible for one of the biggest single-game surprises of this tournament, as the team fought to a scoreless draw with favorite and host nation Brazil in Group A action. And while Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa turned in an outstanding performance to help his team earn a critical point in group play, the team was also able to attack Brazil and create dangerous chances against one of the strongest teams in the field.

The confidence and chemistry that Mexico has displayed in the World Cup is a stark contrast from seven months ago, when the team was forced to win a home-and-home playoff series against Oceania champion New Zealand just to qualify for the tournament. Fortunately, former Club America manager Miguel Herrera was able to guide Mexico through the two-leg series, and since then the team has solidified itself both in defense and in the attack, evolving into one of the biggest surprises in the World Cup thus far.

While Mexico's transformation into a World Cup contender can be partially credited to Herrera's abilities as a fantastic motivator and a cunning tactician, there are other individual and team factors on the field that are contributing to Mexico's ascent. Here are three keys to Mexico's success, along with a look at how far El Tri could go in Brazil.

Marquez, Ochoa setting the defensive tone

At 35 years old, Rafa Marquez has become the first player to captain his team in four World Cup tournaments. And while he has slowed down physically in the later stages of his career, his leadership is undeniable given the fact that he is also coming off of two consecutive Liga MX season titles with his club Leon.

Marquez relies heavily on his experience and instincts as a central defender in Herrera's 5-3-2 formation, and his team-high 7.0 interceptions per match for Mexico in the World Cup are an extension of the team-high 4.8 interceptions that he recorded for Leon in the 2014 Clausura. As an indirect result, just 32 percent of the shots that Mexico has conceded so far have been on target -- compared to 42 percent in World Cup qualifying, which Marquez was mostly not a part of -- and Brazil in particular were forced into more touches from wide positions as it looked to play around Marquez and attack different areas of Mexico's back line.

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