GUADALAJARA, Mexico, June 18 : Mexico coach Javier Aguirre played down his team’s achievement of topping a World Cup group for the first time since 2002 after their 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, saying the real measure of success would come later in the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The co-hosts became the first team to book a place in the knockout stage, sealing top spot in Group A with the victory in Guadalajara and matching the achievement of Aguirre’s 2002 side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I didn’t know that statistic,” Aguirre, who is coaching Mexico at a third World Cup, told reporters. “It’s anecdotal. It was anecdotal in 2002 and it’s anecdotal now because what matters in the end is the final position.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result guarantees Mexico at least one knockout-stage match in Mexico City, a prospect Aguirre welcomed as his side seek to build momentum in front of home support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There’s nothing like playing at home, it’s priceless,” he said. “The Mexico factor is hugely important.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mexico delivered a nervy performance in their tournament opener against South Africa but Aguirre said his players had learned valuable lessons from that match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Today we learned from our mistakes,” he said. “We weren’t spectacular, but we played a good match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That speaks to the team’s maturity. We were much more patient.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked what set this squad apart from previous Mexican teams he had managed, the 67-year-old said with a smile: “(This team) has a calmer coach.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also joked that he had stopped fighting battles over players using mobile phones and had become less rigid than the intense manager who led Mexico in 2002 and 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m much more relaxed and composed now,” he said. “Age helps. Two granddaughters help.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Mexico have secured home-field advantage for the next round, Aguirre said he was determined to keep expectations in check ahead of their final group match against the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But he also wanted to give them the belief they can achieve more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I want to convince my players that we can get into the top 10 in the world,” he said. “That would be something very special for us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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