Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his team’s mentality on Wednesday ?after they upped the tempo in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory against the Czech Republic in their final ?Group A match of the World Cup.
With ?the victory, Mexico advance to the ?knockout phase as group winners.
“I didn’t ?like the first 20 minutes, but then ?we settled down, the team recovered, and that’s where we showed the power of mental strength,” ?he said at a press conference.
The ?Mexican coach, who led the side at the ?and 2010 World Cups, said that while the performance was good “we always have a few things to work on”.
Aguirre, 67, ?said his ?team’s ?mentality is essential to keep progressing at the World Cup, ?where they will look to move ?beyond ?the quarter-finals for the first time.
“I think we’ve improved in that area, that ?mentality ?of ‘Well, that’s it, we’ve ?done our part.’ This group has character,” he said.