If you're a betting man round about World Cup time, there's always one sure fire bet that tends to work out.

Mexico always reach the last-16 of the tournament. In fact they have done so at the last five attempts.

Not since 1990 have El Tri missed the tournament and on that occasion it was due to a scandal which saw Mexico thrown out after using an over-age player in a youth tournament.

But this time it's performances on the pitch that could see them miss out on a trip to Brazil and another potential last-16 place.

For those unaware of the qualifying procedure in CONCACAF, six teams fight it out for three automatic World Cup places and the fourth placed team enter the playoffs.

Usually, it's a given that Mexico and the United States will take two of the three automatic spots, with the likes of Costa Rica and Honduras battling for the other places.

But this time Mexico are really struggling. They occupy the playoff spot - which would mean that they will face New Zealand for a place in the finals - but are in danger of being reeled in by the teams behind them.

Mexico travel to bitter rivals USA on Tuesday, sitting just one point above Panama after a disappointing home defeat to Honduras on Friday night. With only two games to go after the USA match and Mexico languishing two points behind Honduras, automatic qualification will be incredibly difficult to achieve, especially as Mexico must face group leaders Costa Rica away in the final round.

So where has it gone wrong?

First problem is a lack of goals. The Central American giants have scored just four goals in seven games (only bottom placed Jamaica has scored fewer times). That includes three 0 - 0 draws at the Azteca Stadium in games they should really be winning.

The other is conservative policies and a reluctance to blood young players (remind you of anyone?) But in Mexico's case, they sacked manager José Manuel de la Torre.

With Mexico's U23s having won the Olympic Football tournament and Mexico having achieved recent success at U17 level by winning the World Cup in 2005 and 2011 and finishing third at the 2011 U20 World Cup, on paper they should be doing far better.

Some of those young players are pushing for a place in the senior team but de la Torre has favoured experienced names whose place should be under threat from emerging talent.

But they have appointed Luis Fernando Tena as the new manager and he is the man who led the country to the Olympic title.

He will be more likely to blood young talent and will allow his team to express themselves. But there is little time for a revolution with a vital World Cup qualifier against USA tomorrow and the final two rounds of the group taking place next month.