Mexico Hopes To Put Nerves Behind It Against South Korea In Key World Cup Match

Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel was 18 years aged and playing for Chivas de Guadalajara’s younker academy nan past clip Mexico faced South Korea successful a World Cup lucifer successful 2018.

Three years ago, erstwhile asked who mightiness beryllium nan adjacent awesome goalkeeper for nan Mexican nationalist team, Rangel named himself up of seasoned Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa. A bold connection for a subordinate who was conscionable making his master debut.

On Thursday, nan 26-year-old goalkeeper will take sides El Tri’s extremity during his 2nd World Cup lucifer astatine Guadalajara Stadium — wherever he usually plays location games pinch Chivas — erstwhile Mexico takes connected South Korea astatine 6 p.m. PDT connected Fox/Telemundo successful nan 2nd lucifer of Group A.

“I told everyone, ‘I spot myself astatine nan World Cup.’ Some group laughed,” Rangel recalled. “I’d been picturing myself connected nan nationalist squad for 3 years.”

Mexico’s Julian Quinones celebrates pinch teammates aft scoring during a World Cup lucifer against South Africa astatine Azteca Stadium connected June 11.

(Luke Hales / Getty Images)

Mexico and South Korea won their opening matches — El Tri against South Africa and nan South Koreans against nan Czech Republic — truthful nan victor of this lucifer will return first spot successful nan group and unafraid its spot successful nan adjacent round. The inducement is clear for Mexico, arsenic nan group victor will play nan adjacent 2 knockout rounds astatine Azteca Stadium, wherever El Tri has ne'er mislaid a World Cup match.

The second-place team, connected nan different hand, would person to recreation to Los Angeles for its adjacent match. While nan force could beryllium tougher, Los Angeles would beryllium a comfortable destination for South Korea — it has a beardown instrumentality guidelines successful L.A. and wouldn’t person to contend pinch Mexico City’s precocious altitude.

After an opening lucifer successful which Mexico coach Javier Aguirre acknowledged that nan unit of nan first time affected nan team’s capacity and that nan affectional ambiance astatine Azteca Stadium had “weighed heavily” connected respective of his players, nan coach and nan players dream to present a sharper capacity against South Korea.

“Yes, location was a spot of nervousness, a spot of fear,” Mexico midfielder Erik Lira admitted aft nan opener.

“We request to beryllium much decisive; nan triumph has calmed nan nerves we’ve had complete nan past fewer days,” Mexico defender Israel Reyes said.

But if Mexico wants to excel, it needs not only to put its nerves down it but besides to amended tactically. Mexico, a co-host of nan tourney alongside nan United States and Canada, is aiming to scope nan knockout shape of nan World Cup and beforehand beyond nan information of 16. El Tri has won only 1 lucifer successful nan knockout shape — successful 1986, erstwhile it defeated Bulgaria 2-0 astatine Azteca Stadium.

“I deliberation that intelligence facet has been missing for us. We person to judge that we tin execute awesome things,” Rangel said. “I genuinely judge I’m going to beryllium a champion pinch Mexico. We person a work arsenic hosts.”

The lucifer will beryllium played astatine Guadalajara Stadium, 5,138 feet supra oversea level, and will people nan first clip Mexico has played a World Cup lucifer successful nan city.

Chivas, Mexico’s astir celebrated nine team, has nan astir players connected nan nationalist squad pinch 5 and each of them will get to play their 2nd World Cup lucifer connected their club’s location turf. Brian Gutiérrez, nan Mexican American who played a cardinal domiciled successful nan opener arsenic South Africa was deed a pinch a reddish paper while trying to extremity him, and seasoned Roberto Alvarado, who recorded an assistance against South Africa, joined Rangel arsenic Chivas starters successful nan opener. Bench players Luis Romo and Armando González, who besides saw action successful nan opener, besides play for Chivas.

Mexico skipper Edson Álvarez challenges South Africa’s Themba Zwane during a World Cup lucifer astatine Azteca Stadium connected June 11.

(Carl Recine / Getty Images)

Aguirre will person to make astatine slightest 1 lineup alteration against South Korea, pinch Edson Álvarez replacing César Montes, who is serving a red-card suspension. Álvarez is coming disconnected an wounded and it’s unclear really he will navigate nan stress. Aguirre is besides expected to springiness playing clip to 17-year-old imaginable Gilberto Mora successful midfield — perchance successful spot of Gutiérrez — and to bring successful Jorge Sánchez for Reyes astatine fullback.

South Korea arrives pinch a operation of European acquisition and a hunger for glory. LAFC prima Son Heung-min is playing successful his 4th World Cup and scored against Mexico successful 2018. Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich has been a stone successful protect midfield, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in — who, interestingly, played nether Aguirre astatine Mallorca — is simply a changeless threat successful creating plays. Joining them is Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord successful nan Netherlands.

The South Koreans person besides been training for weeks astatine Verde Valle, Chivas’ training facility, which has allowed them to acclimate to nan altitude. With nan support of nan Mexican crowd, they won their World Cup opening lucifer against nan Czech Republic astatine Guadalajara Stadium.

“It was for illustration playing a crippled successful Seoul,” Hwang said aft nan match, thanking Guadalajara for its support.

“[Mexico] is simply a bully team, but, arsenic you’ve conscionable seen, we tin return connected anyone,” Hwang said aft his squad rallied from a 1-0 shortage to hit nan Czech Republic.

The week, however, was not without contention for nan South Korean team, arsenic nan squad barred property from their location state aft audio of media criticizing nan mandatory subject work exemption granted to Son was leaked. The audio besides included disapproval of coach Hong Myung-bo.

South Korea and Mexico faced disconnected successful September up of nan World Cup, tying 2-2 successful Nashville.

The World Cup stage, however, will beryllium different and brings immense pressure.