Mexico Squad Report: The preparation for Croatia begins

Mexico’s squad enjoyed a well-deserved rest on Wednesday following the previous day’s gritty 0-0 draw against hosts Brazil, but El Tri’s World Cup fate became much clearer while the players were relaxing. 

Next Monday in Recife, Mexico will have to earn at least a point against a Croatia side that demolished Cameroon 4-0 if it is to qualify for the Round of 16.

And if El Tri does pull off a positive result against a Croatia team that has looked good in both of its games so far, Netherlands or Chile await, after both won on Wednesday to eliminate Australia and reigning champion Spain.

But all the intricacies of what is to come for Mexico at Brazil 2014 seemed far away from the players’ minds.

The ones who didn’t start against Brazil headed to the beach in the team’s home base of Santos and kicked around a ball with locals. Later, the whole squad headed to a restaurant for steaks.

“The spirit in the team is excellent,” wrote manager Miguel Herrera on Twitter. “A great group has been created.”

The preparation for Monday’s test against Croatia will start today for Mexico, with Herrera confident El Tri can get the result.

“We’ve got enough to take the next step,” he wrote. “On Monday we’ll go for broke.”

Fixtures/Results

Group A -- June 13 -- Mexico 1 - 0 Cameroon

Group A -- June 18 -- Mexico 0 - 0 Brazil

Group A -- June 23 -- Mexico vs. Croatia

Squad News/Rumors/Injury Report

There has been no word of any knocks after the Brazil match.

Hector Moreno, Paul Aguilar and Jose Juan Vazquez all carry a yellow card into Mexico's final group stage match against Croatia and would miss the Round of 16 clash should they pick another up

Team Leaders

Oribe Peralta — 1 goal.

Guillermo Ochoa -- 2 clean sheets, 7 saves.

Quick Notes

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa continues to fill column inches following his man of the match display against Brazil, with the French outlet L’Equipe recreating his memorable saves with Lego and the UK press suggesting his future could lie at Arsenal or Liverpool.

Marco Fabian has apparently been taken aback by the support he and the Mexican team has received in Brazil. So much so that he penned a letter to fans to express his gratitude: “I know we haven’t won anything yet, but I want to thank you for your shouts of encouragement,” it begins. “You can’t imagine the experience of feeling what it is like to arrive at a stadium in a foreign country and hear “Cielito Lindo” (a Mexican folk song) sung by thousands of people that have saved for some time to come, support us and enjoy the party.”

Mexico’s coach Herrera is going to have a great photo album to show the grandkids from this World Cup. On Wednesday, he shared a pic of him photobombing three of his players (Ochoa, Giovani Dos Santos, Miguel Layun). It may be his best yet.

Croatia is the favorite for Monday’s match with the bookmakers, but not by much.

There was also some sad news on Wednesday, with details filtering out of a Mexico fan falling overboard from a cruise ship taking El Tri fans from Fortaleza to Recife for Monday’s match.