World Cup 2014 Predictions - Group A: Mexico's Miguel Herrera Expects to Play More Than 3 Games
Can Mexico get out of Group A and into the knockout rounds of the 2014 World Cup? Manager Miguel Herrera is confident that this will in fact be the case.
In a recent interview with Goal.com, the manager analyzed the teams in Group A, and emphasized that he intends to get out of the group at all costs.
Mexico was drawn into a group that features host nation Brazil-largely considered the favorite to hoist the trophy-as well as Croatia and Cameroon.
"Brazil is a complete team," Herrera told Goal.com. "Mexico has had good matches against them, but that team has showed that playing at home, as they did in the Confederations Cup, they are going to be very strong. Of course, their emblematic figure is Neymar and we will try to keep the ball most of the time to avoid allowing them to play well."
Brazil actually took down Mexico last summer in the group stage of the Confederations Cup; the Selecao went on to win that tournament.
"All three games are complicated, there's no one easy. The three teams are strong, they have important players. Cameroon and Croatia both have players in Europe involved in matches and leagues that are very important. And obviously Brazil, which has won more titles and also plays at home," said Herrera. "But we go to Brazil with all the intention of getting the points to pass to the next round."
Many believe that Brazil will win the group while second place will be contested between Croatia and Mexico. The Europeans are among the highest ranked teams in the world and have world-class talent such as Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic leading the offense.
"Obviously Croatia will be difficult, it won't be an easy game," said Herrera. "Croatia has important players playing internationally, and in important leagues in Europe. Their key players are a Real Madrid player, Luca Modric, and Mandzukic, a striker for Bayern, but there are more -- six or seven playing in the Premier League -- and are very strong players.
"We need a lot of physical capacity to overcome them and keep the ball."
Will Mexico get out of the group stage? Or will the team only play three games in Brazil?
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