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Mexico confident against South Korea on anniversary of painful defeat
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Mexico confident against South Korea on anniversary of painful defeat

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Mexico's national team players expressed confidence ahead of their match against South Korea, on the 24th anniversary of their most painful defeat.
  • Striker César Huerta acknowledged the challenge against South Korea but believes the team has quality players to replace the suspended César Montes.
  • Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel is motivated to represent Mexico at the Estadio Guadalajara, emphasizing a game-by-game approach without feeling like favorites.

Players on Mexico's national soccer team exuded confidence during their final training session before facing South Korea. The match falls on the 24th anniversary of Mexico's most significant defeat of the century, a 2-0 loss to the United States in the 2002 World Cup.

I was just born, but history is written continuously and now we have a great opportunity at home.

— César HuertaResponding to a question about Mexico's 2002 World Cup loss.

Forward César Huerta, who was an infant during the 2002 match, stated, "History is written continuously, and now we have a great opportunity at home." He acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming game against South Korea, especially with the absence of key defender César Montes, who was sent off against South Africa. "It's an important loss, but we have quality players to replace Montes," Huerta said.

It's an important loss, but we have quality players to replace Montes.

— César HuertaDiscussing the absence of defender César Montes.

Huerta, who plays for Anderlecht in Belgium, described South Korea as a team with "many quality players, tactically good, and fast." He stressed the importance of respecting their opponents. Midfielder Gilberto Mora, hailed as Mexican football's new gem, focused on staying concentrated and enjoying his play. "I just want to be myself on the field; if I get to play, I'll enjoy it. Korea has a lot of talent with a great midfield and an effective forward line," Mora commented.

Korea has many quality players, they are tactically good, fast, and we will be respectful of them.

— César HuertaDescribing the South Korean team.

Starting goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, who plays for Chivas de Guadalajara, called it an honor to represent his country at the Estadio Guadalajara. "What I'm experiencing is the best thing that can happen to a professional footballer," he said. Rangel noted that the level of competition increases significantly in a World Cup and that the match against South Korea, both leaders of Group A, will be a major test. "We don't feel like favorites; doing so would lead to complacency, and we are not there yet. We're taking it game by game," Rangel concluded.

I just want to be myself on the field; if I get to play, I'll enjoy it. Korea has a lot of talent with a great midfield and an effective forward line.

— Gilberto MoraOn his approach to the game and the opponent.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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