Mexico shift focus to opener with Iran

Reuters - Mexico are seeking a change of fortune at the World Cup and after some poor results in warm-up matches cannot wait for their opener with Iran.

"We haven't played the way we've wanted to lately but in the end it's the game against Iran that we've marked down," said midfielder Luis Perez ahead of the Group D match on June 11.

"The first game is the one that counts," he added. "That's the day we'll be inspired. It's the first and it's the most important game. That's when we want to start winning."

Mexico believe a win over Iran in Nuremburg will set them up to reach the knockout stage. They will then look to get past the second round for the first time since hosting the 1986 finals.

The Mexicans will also play unfenced Angola on June 16 in Hanover and Portugal on June 21 in Gelsenkirchen.

They drew rave reviews when they beat Brazil last year at the Confederations Cup in Germany, a tournament in which they also drew with Argentina and the hosts, but many in the squad realise they are playing below the level reached a year ago.

Mexico lost 1-0 to France in a friendly on May 27 and 2-1 to a second-string Netherlands side on June 1, while friction between coach Ricardo La Volpe and some players, especially forward Francisco Fonseca, has threatened to upset the squad.