Mexico manager Javier Aguirre said he hopes local fans will make the difference for El Tri when the World Cup co-hosts face Ecuador at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca in the round of 32 on Tuesday in a matchup of two Latin American sides.
After advancing from the group stage with a perfect record and without conceding a goal, Mexico must show their best form in the knockout clash against Ecuador — arguably their toughest test yet.
“Our home crowd is our 12th man,” Aguirre told reporters on Monday about the tens of thousands of fans that have packed the venue since the World Cup kicked off on June 11. “I don’t mean to say that we don’t have support elsewhere, but we are aware that we have a whole country behind us, and that motivates us a lot. I would say that we are all excited about what’s to come.”
