World Cup: Mexico's goalkeeper hailed a hero for 'instinctive' save against South Korea

Mexico's World Cup campaign received a significant boost as goalkeeper Raul Rangel's heroic save secured a narrow 1-0 victory against South Korea. The dramatic moment in the 87th minute, when Rangel denied Cho Gue-sung a clear chance to equalize, cemented his status as a national hero.

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If you ask me now, I actually don't remember. It was purely an instinctive reaction. The only thing I remember is the ball in my hands. At that moment, I had to stabilize the team's morale.

Reflecting on the pivotal save, Rangel admitted he couldn't recall the specifics, attributing the action to pure instinct. "The only thing I remember is the ball in my hands," he stated, highlighting its importance in stabilizing the team's morale during a tense moment. The match's lone goal came in the 50th minute after a defensive lapse by South Korea's goalkeeper.

Despite the crucial win, Rangel acknowledged the strength and aggressive play of the South Korean team. "They fought hard, and the game was tight and difficult," he said. However, he praised Mexico's ability to control the game's tempo, asserting that the team is demonstrating the dominance of a strong side and must maintain this momentum.

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But we coped well, and thank goodness we got the result we wanted. Of course, we have to look to the future as soon as possible. Although this is a good result, we cannot be satisfied; we must start thinking about the match against the Czech Republic.

Looking ahead, Rangel emphasized the need for the team to quickly shift their focus to the next challenge against the Czech Republic. "We must look to the future as soon as possible," he urged, cautioning against any sense of complacency despite the positive result. "We cannot be satisfied; we must start thinking about the match against the Czech Republic."

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Of course, the opponent also gave their all, so the game was tight and difficult. However, our team did a very good job of controlling the game's tempo. I think we are showing the dominance of a strong team and must maintain this morale.