The World Cup is soccer's grandest stage, but
Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez says he and his teammates weren't
overawed heading into their opening
match Friday against Cameroon.
"The truth is we entered the game with no pressure, no matter what other people could think or say. We came with the illusion and motivation of a World Cup, you have to see coming here as a showcase, as an incredible opportunity to do what you love more, that is playing football in the best competition," Hernandez said after the Mexicans' 1-0 win.
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The scoreline seemed unnecessarily close, with two apparent goals from Giovani dos Santos called back for offside in the first half and a penalty shout going unanswered. Despite the hardship, and some hearty protest on the pitch, Hernandez was unruffled after the match.
"We have to be respectful," the Manchester United man said. "We didn't know about (the fact that replay showed the goals should've stood). We were told when we were at halftime. (Referees) are human, and they are a third factor that we can't control. They try to do their best. If we can miss, so can they. It's part of football."
Perhaps he was feeling a bit of sympathy after he missed his own opportunity in the match. Hernandez entered the game in the 74th minute for goalscorer Oribe Peralta after previously noting he didn't enjoy his substitute role. But he didn't boost his case, missing a late chance to put the match out of question.
"(The ball) doesn't comes to my foot or my head, it comes at medium high, but this is part of football," he said of the chance. "The good thing is that it had no consequences and we got the three points."
Those three points may prove crucial with a match against host and tournament favorite Brazil up next and a contest with a Croatia team that nearly toppled Brazil to follow in Group A. But Hernandez says the approach will be the same as it was when facing the African side.
"No team looks easy for us but no team looks impossible for us to beat," he said.
Hernandez continued: "All three are difficult, all have their own set of circumstances, but for us the three have the same grade of difficulty."
"The truth is we entered the game with no pressure, no matter what other people could think or say. We came with the illusion and motivation of a World Cup, you have to see coming here as a showcase, as an incredible opportunity to do what you love more, that is playing football in the best competition," Hernandez said after the Mexicans' 1-0 win.
PHOTOS: Opening ceremony | Brazil protests | Soccer fanatics | Fan tattoos
The scoreline seemed unnecessarily close, with two apparent goals from Giovani dos Santos called back for offside in the first half and a penalty shout going unanswered. Despite the hardship, and some hearty protest on the pitch, Hernandez was unruffled after the match.
"We have to be respectful," the Manchester United man said. "We didn't know about (the fact that replay showed the goals should've stood). We were told when we were at halftime. (Referees) are human, and they are a third factor that we can't control. They try to do their best. If we can miss, so can they. It's part of football."
Perhaps he was feeling a bit of sympathy after he missed his own opportunity in the match. Hernandez entered the game in the 74th minute for goalscorer Oribe Peralta after previously noting he didn't enjoy his substitute role. But he didn't boost his case, missing a late chance to put the match out of question.
"(The ball) doesn't comes to my foot or my head, it comes at medium high, but this is part of football," he said of the chance. "The good thing is that it had no consequences and we got the three points."
Those three points may prove crucial with a match against host and tournament favorite Brazil up next and a contest with a Croatia team that nearly toppled Brazil to follow in Group A. But Hernandez says the approach will be the same as it was when facing the African side.
"No team looks easy for us but no team looks impossible for us to beat," he said.
Hernandez continued: "All three are difficult, all have their own set of circumstances, but for us the three have the same grade of difficulty."
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