Mexico has begun its final preparations for the USA-Mexico match that will open the Hexagonal Feb. 28 in Columbus, and Mexico coach Enrique Meza says his team is the favorite to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Meza said the USA-Mexico would have the intensity of a World Cup final. He feels the key in the Hexagonal is a team’s ability to take points on the road. The only players missing from his 24-man roster at the Cenntro Pegaso were defender Rafael Marquez, the one foreign-based player at French club Monaco, and Alberto Macias, Oscar Perez and Francisco Palencia, who are with Cruz Azul, which is playing Defensor Sporting of Uruguay in the Libertadores Cup. Meza downplayed injuries to veterans Luis Hernandez and Claudio Suarez. Missing from the Mexico squad are stars Ramon Ramirez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, both out for months with injuries. Mexico doubled up on games last week to free up its players for the U.S. match.