México vs Coracia: kill or get killed

Recife, Brasil

Lose is out of the question. Mexico will try to obtain its ticket to the World Cup Brazil 2014's next round, when they will face Croatia in the third round of Group A. This duel will stage the court of the Arena Pernambuco in Recife at 5 PM local time (3 PM central Mexico), with the arbitration of Uzbek Ravshan Irmatov.

The squad led by Miguel Herrera has offered way more than many expected from them, after beating Cameroon, but especially after the draw against Brazil.

These results keep them in second place in their sector with four units and an important rating outlook.

The tricolor needs to draw at least against the Europeans; or possibly a win to claim the first place in the rankings, as long as the host team does not defeat the "Indomitable Lions".

Beyond winning or losing, El Tri has to keep on going its attack strategies and skills; reinforce its deffense problems shown in the previous games and keep goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in of the court at every single minute.

Herrera will have to study and understand the enemy skills, very similar to Bosnia-Herzegovina's, the team who defeated the national team few weeks ago in a friendly game.

However, Croatia has great technical players like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivica Olic, who proved their power against Cameroon (4-0).

Difficulties for Croats include the pressure to win, because not to do so would mean their elimination of the next phase of the tournament.

These teams have met in a World Cup before in 2002, with victory for the Mexicans by minimum difference scored by Cuauhtémoc Blanco.