YEKATERINBURG, Russia – The mere sight of Brazil’s famous yellow shirt can instill fear into opponents worldwide; unless that opponent is Mexico.
On Monday, El Tricolor will square off against the five-time world champions in the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with recent history very much on the side of the CONCACAF nation.
In the last 15 matches between the two nations, Mexico own an excellent 7W-3D-5L record against the Selecao.
El Tricolor’s record against Brazil in official matches is even more impressive.
Dating back to its 4-3 triumph over Brazil in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Final, Mexico possesses a 6W-1D-2L record against the South Americans in official matches, encompassing the FIFA Confederations Cup (2-0-1), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2-0-0), Copa America (2-0-1) and FIFA World Cup (0-1-0).
The lone meeting between the two in a World Cup in the last 20 years was four years ago at Brazil 2014 when a superb performance from GK Guillermo Ochoa helped Mexico earn a valiant 0-0 draw against the host nation.
Also, not to be forgotten was Mexico’s scintillating 2-1 win over Brazil in the Gold Medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, in which FW Oribe Peralta scored twice to lead El Tricolor to its first Gold Medal in Men’s Football.
With the stakes high once again, Mexico will take aim at Brazil and look to clinch a spot in a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time since Mexico 1986.
“We are working step by step,” said Mexico MF Marco Fabian in the mixed zone following Mexico’s 3-0 defeat to Sweden in its group stage finale.
“We live in the present, what we wanted was achieved, now it’s time to put our minds and hearts into the next match. There is more joy,” concluded Fabian.
