Many of the world's top players are likely to arrive at the World Cup weary from a long hard European season.
Not so, Mexico striker Jared Borgetti.
The 32-year-old, his country's all-time leading scorer with 37 goals in 74 outings, became the first Mexican to play in the English Premier League when he signed for Bolton Wanderers before the 2005-06 season.
What appeared to be a dream move late in his career has turned to frustration for Borgetti, who was restricted to less than a handful of starts all season.
It will be fascinating to see whether the lack of competitive football will leave Borgetti off the pace or whether, as with Brazil's Ronaldo in 2002, it will mean he is fresh and raring to go.
Mexico, a team often accused of lacking the knockout punch, will certainly need an in-form Borgetti if they are to mount a serious challenge in Germany.
The Desert Fox was instrumental in Mexico's trouble-free ride through the qualifiers as he netted 14 times -- the highest scorer in any of the six qualifying regions.
Borgetti, a penalty area specialist whose strength is in the air, is a relatively late developer and has never played for a big club even in his homeland.
He started out with Atlas, the poor relations to the more popular Guadalajara, then joined Santos Laguna in the town of Torreon, where he stayed from 1996 to 2004, finishing as the Mexican championship top scorer twice in a row in 2000 and 2001.
He then moved to Sinaloa and Pachuca before the move to England.
Borgetti made his international debut against Ecuador in 1997, but missed out on the 1998 World Cup finals. But his performances for Santos won him a place in the team and he started all four of Mexico's matches at the 2002 World Cup, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Italy.
He also caught the eye in last year's Confederations Cup in Germany and if he does well again in the Germany finals, it could mean the difference between a good and a bad World Cup for Mexico.
