Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe has defended his decision to select several players born outside the country for this summer's World Cup finals.

Argentinian-born striker Guillermo Franco and Brazilian-born midfielder Zinha have both been included in La Volpe's 23-man squad, a move that has attracted criticism from many quarters in Mexico.

However, an unrepentant La Volpe said: "Most of the strikers who play in Mexico, I would say 80 percent, are foreigners and if one of them is a naturalised Mexican, I don't understand why I can't see what he can do.

"I'd like to see all these club coaches who complain about naturalised players field only Mexicans."

Former Mexico legend Hugo Sanchez has led the fiery reaction to La Volpe's selection policy, fuming: "The players are not to blame. It's the people who make the decisions who are responsible.

"It's very dangerous because we've already got two or three and that could became four, five or six and then we will reach a moment when the national team is no longer the national team, but a team of naturalised players."