6/4/2006
Chris Cowles

GOETTINGEN, Germany (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.

GREAT MOMENTS

The combative Argentine manager has come down hard on his players, making it clear he does not want them airing complaints to reporters.

In a private meeting with his squad before they faced the Dutch in Eindhoven he said he would not tolerate players questioning his decisions regarding team selection.

But defender Claudio Suarez, who is the world's second most-capped player and is about to feature in his third finals, has taken all the pressures in his stride.

"You need to know how to handle it and have fun. It (playing at the World Cup) is what every player wants," he said. "Since we arrived the people of Germany have been very interested in the team and, for us, it's great to live these moments."

More than 15,000 turned out to see Mexico's reserve team struggle to beat a regional amateur side 3-0 on Saturday in a match that allowed the coaching staff to evaluate players.

On Sunday La Volpe, their longest-serving coach after taking over following the 2002 World Cup, led the squad through a relaxed 90-minute open session before more than 1,200 fans, many carrying national flags and dressed in Mexico's colours.

He did not speak to the media but defender Carlos Salcido said: "Everything we've gone through, everything we've worked hard for, we hope pays off.

"We've played a lot of friendlies and used different formations and players. I think the coach has his lineup set. We expect to succeed and hopefully we'll do well."