Javier Aguirre gives Mexico side no excuses for pre-match nerves against South Korea

[p]Both teams enter the Group A ‌clash at the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/mexico-O6iHcNkd/south-africa-W2ijYvlr/?mid=h4EoUB7T"]Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday[/a] with three points following opening victories, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South ‌Korea[/a] beating the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/6LHwBDGU/"]Czech Republic[/a] 2-1.[/p][p]While [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] defeated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] ‌2-0 to start their campaign, Aguirre noted that 10 of his players were ‌making their World Cup debuts and appeared physically and mentally ‌tight under the pressure of the home crowd.[/p][p][b]"I granted them the benefit of the doubt for the nervousness of a debut,"[/b] Aguirre said. [b]"But I told them I ‌can no longer allow a player, because of ⁠the stage, to be unable to ‌make a three- or four-metre pass or a movement they have trained for."[/b][/p][p]Aguirre ​identified South Korea's transition speed as the primary threat, citing a friendly between the two nations in September where Mexico ​struggled to contain their counter-attacks.[/p][p][b]"The speed of the Koreans going forward - we have trained on how to nullify it,"[/b] Aguirre said. [b]"We have to ⁠be attentive to the 'vigilance' ​when we are attacking. If there are two Koreans, there must be at least three Mexicans."[/b][/p][embed guid="fee753f8-02ee-4715-be37-e802b8e3bc36" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2067487476038484217" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Tactical breaks[/h2][p]The 67-year-old also addressed the growing debate surrounding FIFA's mandatory hydration breaks.[/p][p]While introduced to protect players from the North American summer ‌heat, the three-minute pauses have become a tactical flashpoint, with critics arguing they kill the momentum of dominant teams.[/p][p][b]"We take advantage of the rules,"[/b] Aguirre said. [b]"It allows you to give instructions while the players drink water. I use those breaks to correct things I see; it's actually helpful for us coaches because we don't have to shout across the field anymore."[/b][/p][p]The coach noted that the modern game was increasingly shaped by such new rule modifications and technological aids.[/p][p][b]"It is another ‌type of football than the one I played,"[/b] Aguirre said. [b]"Between the VAR ​and the technological evolution where they send you images at halftime, ‌I think it all adds up to better football."[/b][/p][p]Despite the advances in the game, Aguirre noted that the unpredictability of the World Cup remains constant, citing the parity seen in early results.[/p][p][b]"I have 50 years in this blessed football and I still feel ⁠a strange nervousness before every ⁠game ... The day I don't ‌feel that, I'll go home."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]