Guillermo Ochoa will finally get an opportunity to showcase his goalkeeping skills in the world's biggest soccer tournament as reports indicated that the veteran goalkeeper will star for Mexico in their 2014 World Cup opener on Friday.

ESPN Deportes reported that Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has decided to start Ochoa in their upcoming World Cup Brazil debut against Cameroon, edging fellow goalkeepers Jose Corona and Alfredo Talavera.

Ochoa spent the 2006 and 2010 World Cups watching from the sidelines since he was edged by Oswaldo Sanchez and Oscar Perez, respectively.

Previous reports indicated that Ochoa might find himself glued on the bench again this year, but Herrera finally gave the 28-year-old goalkeeper a chance to show what he can do against the best players in the world.

Herrera said on Sunday that the choice was down to Ochoa and Corona, and he admitted that he is having a hard time picking between the two players, who both performed well in their recent friendly matches.

The Mexico coach pointed out that Corona is better with the ball at his feet, while Ochoa is more athletic, which makes him a better shot stopper than Corona. In the end, Herrera opted to pick Ochoa, knowing that they need more shot blocking in the upcoming Brazil tournament.

The stiff competition between Corona and Ochoa stirred debate among Mexican fans over the past several days, but Sebastian Gonzalez of Rant Sports said he believes that more fans in Mexico are happy with Herrera's decision to finally trust the AC Ajaccio goalkeeper.

"His (Ochoa) place in the starting-11 gives Mexican fans a semblance of hope that coach Herrera does indeed know what he's doing," Gonzalez wrote. "Don't be surprised to see Ochoa become one of Mexico's stand-out players, as his quick reflexes, long arms and uncanny athleticism will give opposing strikers a difficult time."

Mexico, who will be playing without key players Juan Carlos Medina and Luis Montes in the tournament, will go up against Brazil in their second match on June 17 and against Croatia on June 23.

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