Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Hector Herrera: Maturity key to Mexico's qualification success

SAN LUIS POTOSI, Mexico -- Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera sees an important difference between this generation of El Tri players and the one that struggled to qualify for Brazil 2014: maturity.

The Porto player was part of the group that almost ground to a halt in the final two matches of the Hexagonal four years ago, in stark contrast to this time around. Mexico sits in first place on 18 points and is already qualified approaching its final games -- against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday and against Honduras in San Pedro Sula -- with relative calm.

The only real internal pressure is to finish top of the group, although El Tri can also obtain a points record for the Hexagonal and surpass Mexico's haul of 22 under Ricardo La Volpe in 2005.

"We're in a more mature stage football wise with the mentality to be someone and to be protagonists at world level," Herrera said in Thursday's news conference. "The mentality and the union is what has helped us, as well as work as a team."

"We want to be a group that deserves to win and that's the path we're on," he added.

Herrera stressed the squad is happy with the job Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio has done since taking over in October 2015 and that the domestic media can be harsh on the team.

"I think personally the Mexican press is a little bit unjust and hard on the work of the coaches, players and directors," continued Herrera. "I got used to it a little ... I don't know if the coach is used to it in Colombia, but he probably knows about it now."

Osorio maintained that four points from the home and away fixtures is the objective and El Tri's job against Trinidad and Tobago should be eased with the fact the Soca Warriors have brought a makeshift squad made up of younger players and without regulars such as Kenwyne Jones.

Mexico will play in front of a sold out Estadio Alonso Lastras in San Luis, having moved the game from Estadio Azteca. Excitement in the city is high, with around 300 fans waiting for the squad outside the team hotel in a welcome rarely seen in Mexico CIty.

"The greeting was stunning," said Osorio in the same news conference. "We are very thankful to the fans."

Osorio said he will try to spread the starting players out over the two matches, but didn't give any hints as to who will get the nod against Trinidad and Tobago.

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