Chapter 126 Low-key Mexico

The Mexican team, which has advanced to the World Cup finals 14 times, is the fifth consecutive time they have advanced to the World Cup knockout stage. Compared with the public attention of its rival Belgium, Mexico is very low-key.

Compared with the Belgian team, which is full of front and back, the Mexican team's whereabouts are "secret". In this World Cup, they arranged their training ground at Waterston University in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg, which is not far from the stadium, the environment is quiet, and the surrounding terrain is very suitable for closed training.

Before that, Mexico had been playing the role of a second-rate team in the World Cup finals. If they hadn't been facing the Belgian team led by red star Degan, most journalists would not have had much interest in this cactus.

In the fourth 1/8 final of the World Cup in South Africa, the last 15 minutes of open training before the game, the Mexican team, which lacks attention, is completely incomparable to Belgium, Argentina and other world powers in terms of the number and posture of reporters.

Of course, the 15-minute training will not have too much content. Head coach Aguire was almost walking and didn't look at the team members at all. He looked worried. His expression was serious and he was discussing something with the two assistants.

The team members seemed very silent and the atmosphere was a little dull. It can be seen that they were all a little nervous when they were about to face Degan's leadership in Belgium.

The biggest player in the Mexican team is Marquis, who plays for Barcelona. He doesn't smile during training. He looks a little alone, and his teammates are also in charge. The Mexican captain's domineering seems to be slightly insufficient.

As if to vent this tense atmosphere, head coach Aguirre made an exception in an interview: "We need to focus on our minds, which is more important than venting enthusiasm. Only by staying calm can we have the opportunity to defeat Belgium. In the face of geniuses like Degan, we must be smart and not let ourselves We have become crazy. If we can play teamwork football, then we can deal with Degan's personal skills.

Aguirre hopes that Mexico can go further in the non-local World Cup. Fortunately, Mexico has a broader vision than when he was a player.

10 of the Mexican team play in the European League, including Arsenal striker Bella, Barcelona's Marcos and 22-year-old striker Hernandez, who has just signed with Manchester United.

While his rejuvenation of the team and recruiting these young players, he also found 37-year-old veteran Blanco to set the team's sea needle.

Although this fat "frog jumping man" is no longer brave and has been caught smoking by TV cameras, in this World Cup, he can always organize the Mexican team's attack in an orderly manner every time he appears to play, and the seemingly inadvertent pass is fatal. In the group match against France, it was his main penalty kick that sealed the victory for Mexico.

For Mexican players and fans, it is Aguire himself who can make them look forward to the fifth game.

Since he took over the mess left by Erikson last year, the Mexican team finally ended the nightmare in the fourth stage of the qualifiers and went all the way to South Africa to the top 16. Because of Aguire, they reshaped themselves, no longer afraid of failure, no longer depressed, and no longer quarrel with each other.

When he was ordered, Aguirre once said that the team's first goal was perhaps the most difficult one to get a ticket to South Africa. Now, they have overfulfilled the task.

When Mexico won the second place in the group, they have realized that they will face the strong Belgium in the top 16 finals. However, head coach Aguirre said today that they have never been afraid of Belgium: "We will beat them in this game and will not be intimidated by them. There is no doubt that this is strong. Dialogue, we will have a good competition with the Belgian team. We have been waiting for the opportunity to defeat the Belgian team. Now the opportunity has come. Our players are in very good shape and have the strength to win the knockout match. Of course, we must also admit that the Belgian team is now in a very excited and high state. The three group matches are smooth and easy. They are a strong team, which is very clear, so the Belgian team with excellent condition will be stronger.

However, Aguirre doesn't think his team has no chance: "The Mexican team is also full of fighting spirit. There has never been a strictly defined strength or weakness in football. Our purpose is very clear. I am very confident in blocking the Belgian team's attack."

As for who will prevent Degan, Aguirre laughed and said, "The Mexican team is a strong whole and will never be separated. The threat of the Belgian team comes not only from a Messi. What we need to do is to consider it comprehensively."

Although the Mexican team has always been very low-key, it is not difficult to see from Aguire's words that they have strong self-confidence, which is the spiritual strength necessary for Mexico to defeat Belgium.

"We must strive to cross the Belgian team, although they are considered to be the favorite to win the championship." Dos Santos, the core of the team's offensive team, said in an interview, "This will not be a one-sided game. We are equal in strength. I believe we can win the game. As long as we concentrate on it, Degan is the best player in the world, but Belgium has only one degan, relying on Digan alone. Lishi can't win the game, so we must be smarter instead of running wildly with him. We have to rely on the overall defense to contain Degan's attack.

For this game, Mexican President Philip. Calderon also went to South Africa to cheer for the players, and the president of the Mexican Football Association vowed to promise their president that Mexico would play at least five World Cup games.

"This is our promise, at least five games, or more."

For a team that is not favored by many people and has only once in their team's history to enter the top four in the World Cup, such a promise is obviously too bold.

However, the team's head coach Aguirre is not worried about this. He said that no matter who the opponent is in the knockout stage, Mexico will go all out: "Even if the opponent is Belgium, we have no problem. It will be a very wonderful game. We are not afraid of Belgium and will treat any team like any team. I know it will be very difficult to prepare for the game against Belgium in that way, but we will try our best to win.

In the World Cup in Germany four years ago, Mexico played against Argentina in the last 16 and was 1:1 in 90 minutes. Rodriguez scored a goal in overtime.

Four years have passed, and Mexico has once again advanced to the knockout stage. This time they have to face the European Red Devil Belgium, which is stronger than Argentina.

The Mexican team's previous group stage performance was mediocre, and it has always been not accurate enough. Although the team's personal ability is outstanding, it is obviously difficult to compare with Belgium in terms of overall cooperation and the ability to seize opportunities. However, Mexico's cooperation in a small range is excellent, and the speed of progress Fast, especially in fast counterattacks, they can often tear open the opponent's defense line through strange passes and cuts. However, in the face of Belgium with balanced offensive and defensive capabilities, can they achieve anything?

Compared with the strong attack power, the defense is the weakness of the Mexican team. Although there are stars like Marquis, the overall defense of the Mexican team is still not strong. Aguire warned the players early: "From now on, as long as one mistake, Mexico can be sent home."

As Aguirre said, the Mexican team must first ensure that they do not make mistakes before they can go further and complete the goal of at least five games said by the president of the Mexican Football Association.

But it seems that no one dares to believe them unless they can pass the Belgian team led by Degan in the eighth final, and the Mexicans seem to be at a disadvantage both from the historical record and the current comparison of the strength of the two sides.

At this time, only the Mexican team can give themselves courage and confidence, and they need to use this victory to write a new chapter for them.

Mexico's best World Cup record was to win the sixth place in 1970 and 1986, but they were both the host. Their best results in the non-domestic World Cup were only 11th. This time, the Belgian team, which encountered fierce momentum in the eighth final, wanted to pass. How easy is it?

"Well, I admit that the Belgian team is very strong. They have the best players in the world, but so what? Should we give up our efforts? Mexican captain Marquis said, "Mexicans always have a subconscious pessimism, but please give us some trust. We will repay our fans with practical actions and change their always pessimism in the face of strong enemies. If we want Mexico to become stronger, then we must give strong Support, not pessimism, and we also have the confidence to strive for victory.

If Mexicans want to win, they have a huge problem that can't avoid, that is, Degan, how to prevent him has become the key to whether Mexicans can move forward.

When facing the South Korean team in the Belgian group stage, even if the South Koreans used the "human meat sandbag" tactic, they could not stop Degan from being powerful.

"There is only one way, that is to give him a shot." Mexican captain Marquis, who has taught Degan several times, said with a smile. Of course, this is just a joke from him. "I have played with him several times in the Champions League. It's hard to imagine. To be honest, he is really strong. It is very difficult to prevent him. As long as the football is under his feet, it is difficult to be taken away. It's really too difficult to freeze Degan, especially when he dribbles the ball, and may suddenly change direction under any circumstances. We all know how powerful Degan is. He is the best player in the world. He is very talented and can change the rhythm of the game in an instant. It is difficult for anyone to limit him, suppress his performance well, and face Degan. For such a genius, we must rely on overall cooperation to limit his skills. What we want to try is to reduce the space for his activities and invest more players to assist in defense. Since it is difficult to grab the ball from his feet, we must try to make him touch the ball as little as possible and limit his chance to control the ball as much as possible.

At the same time, Marquis also pointed out that Belgium is not impeccable: "In terms of offense, they are the best performing team in this World Cup, but they also have weaknesses. They have hoarded a large number of players in the middle, making their wings look very thin. We will try our best Use more destructive defense to find opportunities in the counterattack, and I believe that our ball control ability is no worse than theirs.

"I will be 35 years old in the next World Cup, and I may not be able to fight for the country anymore. I want to enjoy every game in the World Cup and enjoy the days with my teammates." Marquis does not want the match with Belgium to become his masterpiece in the World Cup. "Mexico has been out of the top 8 of the World Cup for a long time. We are only one step away from making history. I think the team is in good shape now and we must win."

In the face of Belgium's powerful opponent, Mexico is likely to make some changes in the arrangement of troops. Franco is Mexico's main striker in the group stage of the World Cup in South Africa. He started the field, but his performance was not satisfactory and did not score goals. Both the media and the fans were against coach Aji. Ray's use expressed doubts.

In this game, Aguirre may adopt the advice of the outside world to take Franco from the starting lineup and replace him with the popular "little pea" Hernandez.

It is reported that when Mexico conducted closed tactical drills two days ago, Franco had entered the substitute side, and his starting position was replaced by Hernandez, who scored a wonderful goal against France.

Hernandez, who has signed a contract with Manchester United, is outstanding and fast. He played as a substitute in three games in the group stage. Although his playing time is limited, he has often played well, which is in sharp contrast to Franco.

In addition, Bella, a 21-year-old striker who played for Arsenal, missed the last game with the group match due to a thigh tendon injury, but his injury recovered very well and is now able to practice with the whole team and is expected to return in this game.

The fourth game of the 1/8 final is about to start. After the last training before the game, the two teams returned to the locker room. Fans began to flock to the stands to fill the whole stadium. Mexicans are looking forward to creating a new history, while the Belgians are looking forward to their team being able to make up for four years ago under the leadership of Degan. The regret.