Mexico seek World Cup redemption

Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico are seeking redemption after winning the Olympic football gold and then almost failing to qualify for the World Cup finals.

But coach Miguel Herrera says it may do the team good to be treated like outsiders.

Mexico, who have been to every World Cup finals since 1994, will be in a tough Group A with hosts and five-time winners Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon. They almost did not make it that far.

Mexico had high hopes after they defeated a Brazil team featuring Neymar, Oscar and Thiago Silva to win the gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012.

But they managed only two wins and seven goals in 10 games in the North and Central American qualifying contest. Mexico missed out on an automatic qualifying place -- they went to the United States, Honduras and Costa Rica -- and needed a playoff against New Zealand to gain their ticket to Brazil.

They only got to the playoff after bitter rivals, the United States, defeated Panama in the last match of the qualifying tournament.

The Mexican federation fired three coaches in six weeks before hiring Miguel Herrera, manager of 2013 Mexican league champions Club America.

The team's bad form was all the more surprising because it featured Manchester United striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Villareal playmaker Giovani dos Santos.

The outspoke Herrera has voiced optimism since steering the team away from the abyss by trouncing New Zealand the two-game play-off in November.

He said being the outsiders could help Mexico after their near humiliation.

"Maybe some will underestimate us, and this can help us demonstrate that we are alright and that we can surprise anybody," Herrera told AFP in an interview.

With Brazil favoured to win Group A, Mexico will have to hope they can take second place.

They will play Cameroon first on June 13, Brazil on June 17 and Croatia on June 23.

Herrera said he hoped Brazil and Neymar will feel the pressure of playing in front of a demanding home crowd.

"Where we can find a weak point is by taking the ball away from them a little bit, make time go by without letting them hurt us, and then people will become frustrated and demand more from them," he told AFP.

"The pressure could get to them."

For the moment the pressure is still on Mexico after their near miss.

Elimination would have cost sponsors and broadcasters hundreds of millions of dollars in a nation passionate about the sport.

Mexico also had to deal with a long-running saga with Carlos Vela, who plays for Spain's Real Sociedad and is considered the most in-form Mexican player but has rejected overtures to return to the national squad.

When he took over for the games against New Zealand, Herrera dropped all Europe-based stars and instead only used domestic league players. But he said Hernandez and dos Santos will be on World Cup duty.