The World Cup is less than two months away, which means coaches are starting to settle on rosters, which means somebody is going to be left out and be upset about it. Just take a look at Mexico.

More than 200 fans marched in front of the Mexican Soccer Federation headquarters to protest the exclusion of forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco as the team began a pre-World Cup training camp Wednesday.

Blanco, considered one of the best players in recent Mexican history, was left off the 26-man preliminary team named by Coach Ricardo La Volpe. Blanco, 33, has played in two World Cups and is known for his white cleats, a move in which he carries the ball between his ankles and his post-goal pose (he stands like a statue of the Aztec emperor who shares his first name).

Blanco and La Volpe, an Argentine, have clashed for quite some time, and Blanco’s off-field antics — making obscene gestures at fans, insulting referees — did not help his cause. Blanco’s most damaging move was withdrawing from the Confederations Cup last year on the eve of the tournament, saying he was exhausted and needed a break.

As if leaving Blanco off the roster wasn’t enough to rile the fans, La Volpe named two players who were not born in Mexico — naturalized citizens Antonio Naelson of Brazil and Guillermo Franco of Argentina. The coach also selected his son-in-law, Rafael Garcia.

Players are trying to shrug off the controversy and focus on their Cup preparation.

”There are always going to be problems, things which some say and things which others say, but we have to make sure they don’t affect us and stay concentrated,” defender Carlos Salcido told Reuters.

With or without Blanco, Mexico seems to have an easy road to the second round with Iran, Angola and Portugal.

HOME COOKING

Rather than take a chance with unfamiliar German cuisine, the Ecuadorean World Cup team is taking along chef Manfred Krauth, who is, coincidentally, a German national who has worked 17 years in Ecuador and is a chef at the Hilton hotel in Guayaquil. Among the foods Krauth plans to pack are tuna, rice, beans and plantains. Not to suggest Krauth won’t be completely loyal to his employer, but one has to wonder whether the Ecuadorean players will be nervous at breakfast the morning of June 20. That is the day Ecuador plays Germany in a potential knockout match.

KING KELLER

German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is nicknamed ”King Kahn,” but it is U.S. goalie Kasey Keller who is actually living like a king these days. Keller plays in Germany for Borussia Moenchengladbach and is renting a 1,000-year-old castle and living there with his wife, Kristin, and 8-year-old twins, Chloe and Cameron. The four-story castle has a moat, two towers, gargoyle statues, a pool, jacuzzi and steam room, according to an Associated Press story. But there are drawbacks.

”It’s like an antique car,” Keller said. “Always something that needs to be done. Still, we thought it would be cool.”

FRENCH SHOWDOWN

Fabien Barthez, the goalie for the 1998 French World Cup champions, is battling Gregory Coupet for the starting job for the 2006 Cup. Barthez plays for Olympique Marseille and Coupet for Olympique Lyon. Coupet seems to have the edge, as he led his team to a Champions League quarterfinal and a likely fifth consecutive league title.

MESSI INJURED

Argentine teenager Leo Messi, who plays for Barcelona and could become one of the biggest stars of the World Cup, is taking longer to come back from a thigh injury than expected. He will likely miss the end of the Spanish season, although it is possible he’ll be back for the Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan.

SOCA WARRIORS NAMED

Trinidad and Tobago named its ”Soca Warriors” World Cup roster, and there were few surprises. Among the players packing for Germany are goalkeeper Shaka Hislop (West Ham), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC), Stern John (Coventry City), Cornell Glen (LA Galaxy), and Avery John (New England Revolution).

BOCA JUNIORS COFFIN?

When a Boca Juniors fan says he loves a team to death from now on, he might not be exaggerating. The Argentine club, following the lead of Manchester United and Real Madrid, has decided to go into mega-marketing mode, offering a line of 500 customized items including wine, taxis, cell phones, diapers, and yes, coffins.

UP-AND-COMERS

The U.S. men’s Under-20 team is going to Argentina next week for three exhibition games. Among the players on the roster are two South Floridians — 16-year-old Josmer Altidore of Boca Raton, who plays for the MLS Red Bulls in New York, and 18-year-old Nicolas Torres, a Miami resident, who plays in Argentina for second-division Club Deportivo Espanol.