MIKEY STAFFORD reports for TheScore.ie from Arena Pernambuco, Recife
CHEERED FROM THE rafters by huge support in Mexican wrestling masks, “El Tri” showed tremendous fighting spirit to overcome a couple of dismissed penalty claims to secure their passage to the second round for a remarkable sixth time in succession.
That they conceded their first goal of the tournament in the 88th minute will not have bothered them a jot, this was mission accomplished.
If Mexico are to qualify for the quarter-final of a World Cup outside their own country for the first time, they are going to have to find a way past the Netherlands — on the evidence of their second half here, Louis van Gaal’s front-runners are in for a very difficult Sunday afternoon in Fortaleza.
With three goals in 10 second-half minutes from Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez, Mexico had Brazil looking nervously over their shoulders at the summit of Group A. In the end Brazil secured top spot with their 4-1 win, but Mexico will head north this weekend with lots of confidence after dismantling Croatia in the second half.
Semi-finalists in 1998 Croatia, for the third World Cup in a row, go home after three games. Their miserable night was capped in the dying minutes when substitute Ante Rebic was sent off for a high tackle on Carlos Pena.
As Recife celebrated the feast of John the Baptist, Mexico unleashed a biblical second half onslaught on their opponents, cheered on by a raucous crowd in this tight, atmospheric ground.
Hector Herrera’s corners from the Croatian right had been troubling Croatia all night and in the 73rd minute, the little Portugal playmaker found his mark. Marquez rose above Vedran Corluka to power a header underneath the diving Stipe Pletikosa from five yards.
Three minutes later, Mexico had doubled the lead and smoothed their progress to the second round. The recently-introduced Javier Hernandez drew the Croatia defence right before passing to Paul Aguilar, whose low centre was drilled high into the net by the unmarked Andres Guardado.
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Manchester United’s unsettled Hernandez did his market value no harm when he added the insurance in the 83rd minute, prodding home Marquez’s flick-on.
Mexico had had to survive some serious wobbles to arrive at this position of complete relaxation, which was unperturbed by Ivan Perisic’s 88th minute consolation from a strong run and shot.
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera named an unchanged team for the third World Cup game running, while Niko Kovac, in the knowledge his Croatia side would most likely need a win to progress, tweaked his team.
Ricardo Mazalan
Ricardo Mazalan
(Mexico’s fans celebrate after the group A World Cup soccer match)
To counter Mexico’s influential midfield three of Guardado, Herrera and Jose Vasquez, Kovac employed a fluid 4-3-3, pushing Luka Modric to the right, with Jorge Sammir dropping to the bench and regular full-back Danijel Pranjic adding some bite in the middle of the park.
Initially it worked a charm and the European side dominated, placing plenty of pressure on the Mexicans. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, the hero against Brazil, was lucky not to turn villain when he skewed a clearance straight to Ivan Perisic.
Next the Wolfsburg player was freed down the right channel by Mario Mandzukic, but his bobbling cross was cleared for a corner. Croatia came closest to taking the lead from the set piece, only for Paul Aguilar to head the ball off the forehead of Mandzukic, who looked certain to score his third World Cup goal in as many games.
It was all Croatia to that point when, in the 16th minute, Herrera belted a near-perfect left-foot shot across the goal and on to the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards. Stipe Pletikosa was as much a spectator as any among the rabidly pro-Mexico crowd.
Herrera was now getting on top of his battle with Modric for the title of king of the midfield schemers. He slid a pass through to Oribe Peralta but, stretching, Mexico’s only goalscorer in Brazil coming into the second half managed only to divert the ball wide with his standing foot.
There followed a scrappy period punctuated by highly optimistic pot shots from both teams, before the game’s first moment of controversy. Herrera was causing havoc in Croatian defence with his corners and Mexico could have had a penalty, when Darijo Srna, on the edge of the area, appeared to block one delivery with his outstretched arms.
Next, Vedran Corluka had to effect a block with his feet after a mesmerising passage of passing by Mexico ended with a rather tame shot from Miguel Layun.
Evidently made aware at half-time of happenings in Brasilia, where Neymar was saving his team-mates’ skins, Croatia emerged with more urgency as a third straight World Cup threatened to end at the group stage.
After a quiet first half, Modric came to life, one slaloming run from the former Spurs man had Rafael Marquez back-pedalling uncomfortably before conceding a corner, and after that he was inches from sending Mario Mandzukic free with a floated through ball.
Oribe Peralta went close to releasing Giovani dos Santos with a clever touch. Former Tottenham striker Dos Santos had a shot blocked before being withdrawn for Javier Hernandez — a sign Mexico coach Miguel Herrera was not going to retreat and invite Croatia on.
Just like they did against Brazil, Mexico suddenly started to turn the screw and should have been rewarded with a penalty. Paul Aguilar broke down the right and crossed to the back post, where Andres Guardado struck a left foot volley which Croatia captain Srna clearly blocked with his hands — his second such offence of the evening to go unnoticed.
Mexico were furious, and while Jose Vasquez was booked for protesting, largely they channelled their anger well.
Louis van Gaal would be well-advised not to make “El Tri” angry. They wouldn’t like them when they’re angry.
***
Croatia (4-3-3): Stipe Pletikosa; Dario Srna, Vedran Corluka, Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko (Mateo Kovacic 58); Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Danijel Pranjic; Ivan Perisic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivica Olic (Ante Rebic 70)
Booked: Rakitic 9′.
Sent off: Rebic 89′
Mexico (5-3-2): Guillermo Ochoa; Paul Aguilar, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez (c), Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun; Hector Herrera, Jose Juan Vasquez, Andres Guardado (Marco Fabian 85); Giovani Dos Santos (Javier Hernandez 63), Oribe Peralta (Carlos Pena 80)
Mexico earn place in World Cup last 16 with convincing win over Croatia
CROATIA 1 Perisic 88′
MEXICO 3 Marquez 73′ Guardado 76′ Hernandez 83′
MIKEY STAFFORD reports for TheScore.ie from Arena Pernambuco, Recife
CHEERED FROM THE rafters by huge support in Mexican wrestling masks, “El Tri” showed tremendous fighting spirit to overcome a couple of dismissed penalty claims to secure their passage to the second round for a remarkable sixth time in succession.
That they conceded their first goal of the tournament in the 88th minute will not have bothered them a jot, this was mission accomplished.
If Mexico are to qualify for the quarter-final of a World Cup outside their own country for the first time, they are going to have to find a way past the Netherlands — on the evidence of their second half here, Louis van Gaal’s front-runners are in for a very difficult Sunday afternoon in Fortaleza.
With three goals in 10 second-half minutes from Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez, Mexico had Brazil looking nervously over their shoulders at the summit of Group A. In the end Brazil secured top spot with their 4-1 win, but Mexico will head north this weekend with lots of confidence after dismantling Croatia in the second half.
Semi-finalists in 1998 Croatia, for the third World Cup in a row, go home after three games. Their miserable night was capped in the dying minutes when substitute Ante Rebic was sent off for a high tackle on Carlos Pena.
As Recife celebrated the feast of John the Baptist, Mexico unleashed a biblical second half onslaught on their opponents, cheered on by a raucous crowd in this tight, atmospheric ground.
Hector Herrera’s corners from the Croatian right had been troubling Croatia all night and in the 73rd minute, the little Portugal playmaker found his mark. Marquez rose above Vedran Corluka to power a header underneath the diving Stipe Pletikosa from five yards.
Three minutes later, Mexico had doubled the lead and smoothed their progress to the second round. The recently-introduced Javier Hernandez drew the Croatia defence right before passing to Paul Aguilar, whose low centre was drilled high into the net by the unmarked Andres Guardado.
Manchester United’s unsettled Hernandez did his market value no harm when he added the insurance in the 83rd minute, prodding home Marquez’s flick-on.
Mexico had had to survive some serious wobbles to arrive at this position of complete relaxation, which was unperturbed by Ivan Perisic’s 88th minute consolation from a strong run and shot.
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera named an unchanged team for the third World Cup game running, while Niko Kovac, in the knowledge his Croatia side would most likely need a win to progress, tweaked his team.
(Mexico’s fans celebrate after the group A World Cup soccer match)
To counter Mexico’s influential midfield three of Guardado, Herrera and Jose Vasquez, Kovac employed a fluid 4-3-3, pushing Luka Modric to the right, with Jorge Sammir dropping to the bench and regular full-back Danijel Pranjic adding some bite in the middle of the park.
Initially it worked a charm and the European side dominated, placing plenty of pressure on the Mexicans. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, the hero against Brazil, was lucky not to turn villain when he skewed a clearance straight to Ivan Perisic.
Next the Wolfsburg player was freed down the right channel by Mario Mandzukic, but his bobbling cross was cleared for a corner. Croatia came closest to taking the lead from the set piece, only for Paul Aguilar to head the ball off the forehead of Mandzukic, who looked certain to score his third World Cup goal in as many games.
It was all Croatia to that point when, in the 16th minute, Herrera belted a near-perfect left-foot shot across the goal and on to the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards. Stipe Pletikosa was as much a spectator as any among the rabidly pro-Mexico crowd.
Herrera was now getting on top of his battle with Modric for the title of king of the midfield schemers. He slid a pass through to Oribe Peralta but, stretching, Mexico’s only goalscorer in Brazil coming into the second half managed only to divert the ball wide with his standing foot.
There followed a scrappy period punctuated by highly optimistic pot shots from both teams, before the game’s first moment of controversy. Herrera was causing havoc in Croatian defence with his corners and Mexico could have had a penalty, when Darijo Srna, on the edge of the area, appeared to block one delivery with his outstretched arms.
Next, Vedran Corluka had to effect a block with his feet after a mesmerising passage of passing by Mexico ended with a rather tame shot from Miguel Layun.
Evidently made aware at half-time of happenings in Brasilia, where Neymar was saving his team-mates’ skins, Croatia emerged with more urgency as a third straight World Cup threatened to end at the group stage.
After a quiet first half, Modric came to life, one slaloming run from the former Spurs man had Rafael Marquez back-pedalling uncomfortably before conceding a corner, and after that he was inches from sending Mario Mandzukic free with a floated through ball.
Oribe Peralta went close to releasing Giovani dos Santos with a clever touch. Former Tottenham striker Dos Santos had a shot blocked before being withdrawn for Javier Hernandez — a sign Mexico coach Miguel Herrera was not going to retreat and invite Croatia on.
Just like they did against Brazil, Mexico suddenly started to turn the screw and should have been rewarded with a penalty. Paul Aguilar broke down the right and crossed to the back post, where Andres Guardado struck a left foot volley which Croatia captain Srna clearly blocked with his hands — his second such offence of the evening to go unnoticed.
Mexico were furious, and while Jose Vasquez was booked for protesting, largely they channelled their anger well.
Louis van Gaal would be well-advised not to make “El Tri” angry. They wouldn’t like them when they’re angry.
***
Croatia (4-3-3): Stipe Pletikosa; Dario Srna, Vedran Corluka, Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko (Mateo Kovacic 58); Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Danijel Pranjic; Ivan Perisic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivica Olic (Ante Rebic 70)
Booked: Rakitic 9′.
Sent off: Rebic 89′
Mexico (5-3-2): Guillermo Ochoa; Paul Aguilar, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez (c), Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun; Hector Herrera, Jose Juan Vasquez, Andres Guardado (Marco Fabian 85); Giovani Dos Santos (Javier Hernandez 63), Oribe Peralta (Carlos Pena 80)
Booked: Marquez 39′, Vasquez 66′
Referee: Ravshon Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Attendance: 41,212
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