Position: Defender
Born: 25.02.80
Club: Club America

Jose Antonio Castro is one of several right-backs hoping to take advantage of Salvador Carmona's one-year suspension from football.

The veteran of the last two World Cups had been playing the best football of his career up until June 2005 but the Cruz Azul defender will not appear in Germany after he failed a doping test.

Castro filled the gaping hole in Mexico's defensive line with a relatively confident display in the 1-0 friendly victory over Ghana in March but he still faces stiff competition from the likes of Mario Mendez for a regular starting role this summer.

Full of energy and an abundance of stamina, Castro is at his most threatening when he charges forward into his opponents' half but his defending qualities are still in question.