At the time of going to press, Ricardo Lavolpe is still the coach of Mexico.

It is worth putting it in those terms at the outset, because Lavolpe is a highly-controversial figure who has more than once threatened to quit his post. There are simply no guarantees.

It is all part of the Argentinian's uncompromising style of management which has often brought him into conflict with the press and others in the Mexican game.

In simple footballing terms, Lavolpe has earned himself a reputation as a sturdy tactician keen on attacking football and unafraid to use young players in big games. But it is his behaviour off the pitch which has brought him most column inches.

Lavolpe has caused a storm in Mexico with his policy of persuading Argentinian and Brazilian-born players to switch nationality so they can play for the Tricolors.

The latest player to get an invitation from Lavolpe is Argentinian forward Walter Gaitan, who - if he takes up the offer - will join other nationalised players such as Argentinian Guillermo Franco and Brazilian Sinha.

Lavolpe's willingness to look abroad has upset several coaches and players in Mexican football, who feel Mexican-born players are being pushed out to accommodate the "foreigners". San Luis manager Raul Arias has even joked that the national anthem should be changed to the tango.

Others are unhappy that players like Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Adolfo Bautista have been squeezed out.

Blanco, a gifted midfielder who is regarded as Mexico's best player, angered Lavolpe by skipping the 2005 Confederations Cup to go on holiday. He has recently returned to the squad but still has an uneasy relationship with Lavolpe.

One man who has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Lavolpe is former Real Madrid striker Hugo Sanchez, now coach at Unam Puma.

He has made it quite clear that he feels he could do a better job than Lavolpe, and has maintained a steady stream of attacks via the media, using the hot topic of nationalised players to keep the debate alive.

"I know precisely where the Mexican footballers have their individual strengths - and I know how they can be motivated to achieve our aims," he said. Sanchez may have the media's backing, but the Mexican Football Association are standing by their man.

Association President Alberto De La Torre has said: "We're committed to fulfilling the four-year contract (which runs until 2007) with Lavolpe."

The question is whether Lavolpe is equally committed. After a playing career which saw him collect a World Cup-winner's medal as the reserve goalkeeper in the 1978 squad, Lavolpe has worked as a coach in Mexico for more than 20 years.

He has coached several teams - including Puebla, Atlante, Guadalajara, Queretaro, America, Atlas and Toluca. He has had mixed results but did win a national championship in 1992.

He took over the national team in January 2003 in the wake of their exit from the 2002 World Cup in the first knock-out round. In his first year in charge he led the team to the CONCACAF Gold Cup title, but things have not always been so easy.

In the 2004 Copa America, Mexico enjoyed victory over Argentina but came crashing back to earth with an abject performance against Brazil which saw them lose 4-0. Before the game, Lavolpe had boasted that the prospect of playing Brazil would never make him lose sleep - but after the media helped him re-live the nightmare of the match for several days, he issued one of his now common threats to quit.

"I must talk to Mr Alberto de la Torre but I will most probably leave the job open for another person to manage Mexico," he said.

"I'm sick and tired of all the criticism."

He then later told reporters he would stay, but not for long.

"I'm on my way out," he said.

"I'll coach the team for another year more, and that'll be it. It's good enough for me."

A year has already passed, and Lavolpe is still here - and he's still fighting.

At the Confederations Cup, where Mexico's 22-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out loss to Argentina, Lavolpe claimed there was a conspiracy to help Argentina go through.

Lavolpe was angry that Argentina defender Fabricio Coloccini escaped a red card for a bad tackle on Ramon Morales in the 70th minute of the match which forced the Mexican player off on a stretcher.

"At this level of competition above football there is finance and the thinking that the final must be disputed by certain teams," Lavolpe said.

"Coloccini should have been sent off for a terrible foul - that's beyond dispute, because he was obviously playing the man. The superpowers are always at an advantage in this sort of situation, while the sport would like everyone to be treated equally."

All things being equal, Lavolpe should lead his adopted country into the World Cup finals - and as long as he is there, he will be difficult to avoid.