Mexico national men's soccer team coach Miguel Herrera praised his squad for reaching the knockout stages, but he insisted players should not be content with their current achievement in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Mexico, which finished second to Brazil in Group A, will face the Netherlands in the last 16. Winning would match the country's best performance at a World Cup; the team also reached the quarterfinals in the 1986 tournament.

While reaching the quarterfinals would be an achievement for Mexico, considering its tumultuous preparation, Herrera said the squad is capable of playing seven games in the Brazil tournament, which means he expects Mexico to reach the finals.

"The least we want is to win our next game and play a fifth match," Herrera said via Sportal. "It is the least one would expect. But we will not like Brazil (the tournament) if we know we played only five games because I'm sure that the capabilities and desire of this group is at seven."

Mexico, which has 10 players from the team that won the gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics, have been surpassing expectations this season, and many believe Herrera is one of the biggest reasons for success in the tournament.

The 46-year-old coach, named interim last year when most analysts were already counting the team out, has been making headlines with his animated antics in the tournament.

In an Associated Press report, Mexican World Cup commentator Enrique Krauze praised Herrera for inspiring the team to show what Mexicans are made of.

"He is so authentic, so expressive and so genuine," Krauze said via ABC News. "He's becoming the representation of the Mexicans' ability to celebrate and party. That is very seductive."

Mexico team captain Rafael Marquez also had nothing but praise for the coach, who has reportedly impressed the Mexican soccer federation enough to earn an extension. Marquez said Herrera is the right man to bring Mexico back to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

"I am delighted that people now talk about how he is as a person, but also his work," Marquez said via NDTV. "For me, it would be great if he continued, but right now, we need to stay focused on what is coming up."

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