All Whites having nothing to fear: Anthony Hudson

Mexico's Diego Reyes jumps with the ball during a training session at the stadium in Sochi. Photo / AP

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson insists his team don't fear Mexico, despite the intimidating proposition they will present on Wednesday (Thursday NZT).

El Tri was extremely impressive in their opening 2-2 draw with Portugal, looking like a team with something to prove - after some inconsistent performances at major tournaments down the decades.

And the Mexican players are, as always, under pressure to perform for their tens of millions of fans back home.

Indeed, if you want a perspective on the scale of Mexican football, it's provided by the gargantuan media operation following the team's every move in Russia.

There are more than 300 Mexican journalists, writers, cameramen, presenters and camera crew at the Confederations Cup, by far the biggest contingent of any country.

Three television companies have the rights to broadcast the events, and all have set up studios in each of the four host cities.

Mexico is one of the biggest footballing economies in the world, and it was estimated that if they didn't qualify for the 2014 World Cup it would have cost the country around US$ 1 billion.

In contrast, the New Zealand media contingent at this event consists of just one journalist.

The gulf is not that wide on the field, as the All Whites competed well in Nashville last October, putting Mexico under pressure with their pressing strategy in the 2-1 loss.

But it's uncertain how much can be read into that result. Winston Reid was a key figure in that match, with his pace and anticipation, but more importantly this is a completely different Mexico team.

That team in October was essentially a domestic based squad, and only four of that 17 (Marco Fabian, Oribe Peralta, Hirving Lozano and Giovanni Dos Santos) are in Russia.

Still, the All Whites have experience of Mexico and their style, with five clashes since 2010, and should get more time on the ball than they did against Russia. But Mexico are the masters of holding the ball - weaving their intricate triangles across the pitch - and managed 60 per cent possession in their 2-2 against European champions Portugal.

However Hudson is remaining positive.

"We have seen a lot of Mexico," said Hudson. "They are a world class football team and we [are] the smallest team in the tournament. [But] we don't want to be fearful or negative, sit back and allow Mexico to do what they want. We are going to be positive, we want to be brave and we want to improve on the last game."

Hudson admitted the team was "deflated" after the opening match, as they had "so much more to show".

"[Now] we have got another opportunity to show the world, and to show bigger countries, who don't expect anything from New Zealand, that we can actually play, and we are a good team."

"We know how difficult it is going to be. [But] this is not a game we are going into at all fearful or over-respecting the opposition at all. We [have] a clear plan of what we want to do."

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