Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has put England on notice ahead of their World Cup Round of 16 clash at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night, promising his final game in charge at the iconic venue will be his finest hour. The 67-year-old veteran, in his third stint as Mexico boss, will leave his position after the tournament and is determined to deliver a memorable performance against the Three Lions.
Aguirre's Emotional Farewell
Aguirre, who will be replaced by former Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez after the World Cup, spoke emotionally about the match. “I have many different feelings in my heart. But the best is yet to come. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day,” he said. “There are a lot of different stories there for me – my parents won’t be there, but my two granddaughters will be there. Listening to the national anthem will go with me, and none of them are more important than another, but the best is tomorrow I’m sure.”
He expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome England. “If I didn’t believe we could, I’d tell you. I firmly believe in how we play, and I believe that the team who makes less mistakes will win. The pressure is always the same. If it’s here or in Mexico or the US, there’s always pressure and that’s good as it makes you better.”
Neutralising Harry Kane
Aguirre acknowledged the threat posed by England captain Harry Kane, who has been in prolific form for club and country. “Harry Kane is a world star. The goals he has scored with the team and with Bayern Munich, he’s a top, top player in the world. He’s tall, and good at defending, and the captain. Of course we will try to neutralise him with our defensive midfielders and try and keep him uncomfortable so he can’t build any pace,” Aguirre stated.
FIFA Kick-Off Controversy
The build-up to the match was marred by a FIFA proposal to move the kick-off time forward, which Aguirre described as a “kick in the stomach.” FIFA eventually backtracked and kept the kick-off at 6pm local time (1am in the UK) after widespread outrage, though storms are still forecast. Aguirre insisted he was not fooled by the farcical situation. “Fooled? I was told the match would be played at a different time and I said I wasn’t happy with the change. A day before the match, it was inconvenient and that’s all I said. I wasn’t looking for attention – both things were sorted out. You can rest assured those things are spreading through the group – they’re prepared, strong and ready to play a good match tomorrow. Those things can happen and went unnoticed for the players,” he added.
Looking Ahead
England’s preparations were also affected by the uncertainty, but Aguirre believes his side is ready. He expects a tight contest where the team that makes fewer errors will prevail. The match marks the last game at the Azteca Stadium for the foreseeable future, adding extra significance for the Mexican players and fans.
