Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Mexico's Andres Guardado fears South Korea more than Germany

MOSCOW -- Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado wants his teammates to keep their feet on the ground after the 1-0 win over Germany on Sunday and has said that El Tri's second Group F game, against South Korea on Saturday, could be more difficult.

"This triumph is historic and everything, but if we show up in five days and lose, it's all forgotten quickly," Guardado said after the game at Luzhniki Stadium. "The pressure is still on, the World Cup is only just starting and as long as we understand that and keep working, we will achieve more things."

Mexico took the game to Germany on Sunday and earned plaudits for the performance, but the Real Betis midfielder is wary of a South Korea side that is not expected to advance from the group.

"Korea isn't an [easy] team as people believe," Guardado said. "In terms of pressing, they'll make it very complicated for us.

"I have more fear of Korea because less is known about them and that's when you can be overconfident. We have to realize that it will be very complicated and our minds are set on winning and looking for a slightly easier draw [in the round of 16]."

Guardado said Mexico's win against Germany helped the group "reaffirm" the work coach Juan Carlos Osorio has done preparing for Russia 2018 and that El Tri deserved the victory.

"We deserved [the Germany] result because we've suffered a lot," he said. "They've criticized coach Osorio everywhere. They didn't or don't believe in this national team, and I hope that with this win, some of those who didn't have much faith can give us a vote of confidence and really believe that we can achieve great things.

"This is about results. You can say and send motivational messages, but if you don't obtain results, people won't support you. Today, we spoke on the field and we leave very happy, with tranquility and confidence. It reaffirms what we are doing."

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