MEXICO CITY, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Head coach Javier Aguirre praised his players' self-belief after Mexico secured its third straight World Cup win against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo scored second-half goals as the co-host maintained its perfect record with a 3-0 victory at Mexico City Stadium.
The result left Mexico five points clear at the top of Group A and earned the team a home round of 32 clash against a yet-to-be determined opponent. The Czech Republic, playing in its first World Cup since 2006, was eliminated.
"They are very young but very well-prepared," Aguirre told a post-match news conference. "They're not afraid of the big stage."
"We have players who are very seasoned, with three or four World Cups, and we also have 15 or 16 players who are at the World Cup for the first time. They are the future."
He credited his players' ability to enjoy their football while not shying away from challenges.
"These are young players who grew up without any sense of inferiority," the former Atletico Madrid boss said. "They believe in themselves.
"They take things naturally. They don't stress or worry. They just have fun. I'm honestly very privileged to be in charge of this team and these wonderful footballers."
Aguirre admitted his team had endured a difficult first half and said jeering fans had provided motivation for his players.
"There was a moment when they were booing us," he said. "The fans are very demanding. The players have to stand tall. They can't lose their concentration. They have to keep their cool and maintain their emotional balance. Thankfully, now people are celebrating."
He vowed his side would not become complacent after advancing.
"It's difficult to know who our opponent will be," he said. "There are five possible opponents. Our analysts are looking at all of their games. We're not thinking that we've already done our work." Enditem





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