Mexico became the first team to move past the group stage with a 1–0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 18.
Luis Romo scored the winning goal for Mexico, as the team secured the group A title with a second victory of the tournament.
South Korea held the edge in possession at 51 percent and shots, 9–8, but Mexico found a way when it counted most.
“They put us under a lot of pressure,” Team Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre told reporters afterward. “They didn’t give us any space, and neither did we. In the end, it felt like one mistake was always going to make the difference.”
Mexico previously beat South Africa 2–0 on June 11 in Mexico City.
When asked whether he was aware that Mexico had not finished first in its group since 2002, Aguirre said: “I didn’t know that statistic.
“It’s anecdotal. It was anecdotal in 2002, and it’s anecdotal now because what matters in the end is the final position.
“There’s nothing like playing at home, it’s priceless. The Mexico factor is hugely important.”
Czechia and South Africa played to a 1–1 tie on June 18 in the other group A match of the day. Both countries moved to 0–1–1, and South Korea dropped to 1–1 with the loss to Mexico.
With the group A title secured, Mexico can now focus on improving its seeding for the round of 32. Mexico faces Czechia on June 24 in Mexico City.
Czechia will be playing for everything in that match, with slim chances of the round of 32 on the line, which could pose a challenge for Mexico.
For Aguirre, it is his third World Cup after leading Mexico in 2002 and 2010. He is accustomed to the demands of the tournament.
“I’m a much more relaxed, calmer coach than in 2002 or 2010,” he said. “I was much more intense, much stricter with schedules and silly things. Today I’ve already lost the battle over cellphones. I now allow them to take out their phones at meals, in the dressing room, because I was fed up with them hiding from me ... fines and fines.”
Aguirre can also relax a little with the next round clinched. Mexico will play its round of 32 match in Mexico City on June 30. If Mexico advances, the team will remain in Mexico City for the round of 16 on July 5.
“We don’t like depending on others,” Aguirre said. “If we don’t do our job well, no one is going to do it for us. The players knew that if we won, we would finish first and play the next two matches at the Azteca, in Mexico City, which helps us.”
Mexico ranks No. 11 in the world, and Aguirre wants that to improve his team’s overall World Cup results. Mexico has reached the quarterfinals twice in World Cup history, in 1970 and 1986, across 18 appearances.
“I want to keep insisting to my players that we can get into the top 10 in the world,” Aguirre said. “That would be something very special for us.”
