JAVIER Aguirre is confident his Mexico side can gatecrash host nation South Africa's party when the two sides come up against each other in the World Cup opener at Soccer City tomorrow.
The eyes of the world are on Johannesburg where football's global spectacle is set to get under way - a tournament being played for the first time on the African continent.
In what is expected to be a tightly contested Group A, which also includes France and Uruguay, the Mexicans are feeling bullish about their chances and their coach knows the importance of overcoming the first hurdle.
"Mexico is doing well, we feel very confident, we've worked very hard, we are highly motivated and we are convinced we can do well tomorrow on the field," he said.
"So we feel that tomorrow's going to be a great day for Mexico. We've been focusing on this game since December when we were chosen to play in the opening match.
"We're really excited and happy about it because millions of spectators are going to be watching us all over the world. We really want to do well and win the match."
El Tri have a solid record in World Cups having reached the last 16 in the last four tournaments, while they were quarter-finalists on home soil in 1970 and 1986.
But their coach stopped short of predicting how far they could go this time around.
He said: "Mexico's aim is to win the match tomorrow, that's our short-term aim.
"This is a very balanced group, very equal group and I don't think there are any favourites."
Tens of thousands of South Africans poured onto the nation's streets yesterday to give their backing to the home team, while Mexico have been enjoying a quiet build-up at their Thaba Ya Batswana Eco Lodge team base on the outskirts of the city.
However, Aguirre insisted that his side will not be daunted by this show of support.
"My team has come here to play football. We haven't come here to make any friends or to do any sightseeing," he said.
"We're really focused on what we have to do and I'm not interested in what our opponents are doing in their leisure time or training sessions.
"We're just focused on or job, which we have been doing in recent matches and we're in good shape.
Aguirre admitted there will be some nerves - playing in front of an expected 85,000 crowd, most of whom will be blowing the now famous trumpet-like horn called vuvuzela.
He added: "Of course there's a lot of emotion playing the opening game.
"But once you overcome all the butterflies in your stomach I'm sure Mexico will play very well."
In what is expected to be a tightly contested Group A, which also includes France and Uruguay, the Mexicans are feeling bullish about their chances and their coach knows the importance of overcoming the first hurdle.
"Mexico is doing well, we feel very confident, we've worked very hard, we are highly motivated and we are convinced we can do well tomorrow on the field," he said.
"So we feel that tomorrow's going to be a great day for Mexico. We've been focusing on this game since December when we were chosen to play in the opening match.
"We're really excited and happy about it because millions of spectators are going to be watching us all over the world. We really want to do well and win the match."
El Tri have a solid record in World Cups having reached the last 16 in the last four tournaments, while they were quarter-finalists on home soil in 1970 and 1986.
But their coach stopped short of predicting how far they could go this time around.
He said: "Mexico's aim is to win the match tomorrow, that's our short-term aim.
"This is a very balanced group, very equal group and I don't think there are any favourites."
Tens of thousands of South Africans poured onto the nation's streets yesterday to give their backing to the home team, while Mexico have been enjoying a quiet build-up at their Thaba Ya Batswana Eco Lodge team base on the outskirts of the city.
However, Aguirre insisted that his side will not be daunted by this show of support.
"My team has come here to play football. We haven't come here to make any friends or to do any sightseeing," he said.
"We're really focused on what we have to do and I'm not interested in what our opponents are doing in their leisure time or training sessions.
"We're just focused on or job, which we have been doing in recent matches and we're in good shape.
Aguirre admitted there will be some nerves - playing in front of an expected 85,000 crowd, most of whom will be blowing the now famous trumpet-like horn called vuvuzela.
He added: "Of course there's a lot of emotion playing the opening game.
"But once you overcome all the butterflies in your stomach I'm sure Mexico will play very well."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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