Soccer: Mexico full of praise for US rivals ahead of clash

TAEJON - It is the biggest grudge match of the second round of the cup, but the Mexicans have been falling over themselves to heap praise on their opponents, the United States.

"They're very dangerous rivals," said goalkeeper Oscar Perez after Mexico completed their first training session in South Korea since they arrived from Japan for tonight's clash with their northern neighbours.

"They're very well organised at the back, they don't give you much space and they hit you hard on the counter-attack with very fast players down the wings."

Mexico striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco dismissed suggestions that Mexico were clear favourites for the match in Chonju.

"I think the United States have grown a lot and they have some very quick players," he said. "However, we're confident we can make it to the next round.

"There's a lot of rivalry between Mexico and the United States, but our team comes here playing well. We'll try to attack them from the first minute."

Mexico were impressive in the group stage of the tournament, beating Croatia and Ecuador and drawing with Italy.

The US were more erratic, beating Portugal, drawing with South Korea and squeezing through to the last 16 despite losing their final match against Poland.

Mexico, unlike the US, have no injuries and no suspended players.

Coach Javier Aguirre denied that Mexico were favourites, pointing out that when the two sides met in the qualifiers for this tournament, they won one match each.

Mexico are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the third time in their history, and the first time outside Mexico. The two previous occasions they made it to the last eight were in 1970 and 1986, when they were hosts.

They have an impressive record against the US, winning 28 and losing only nine of their 46 meetings since they first locked horns in 1934.

- REUTERS

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