Mexico coach Javier Aguirre admitted his players had to overcome early nerves before securing a convincing victory in their World Cup opener, but insisted the team's attention is already fixed on the next challenge rather than topping Group A.
Mexico had never won their opening game of a World Cup in seven previous attempts, recording five defeats and two draws across their earlier appearances at the tournament.
But Aguirre’s side were in control throughout against an underwhelming South African team at the Estadio Azteca, collecting three points that leave them well placed in the race for a place in the knockout rounds.
Aguirre revealed that opening-match nerves had briefly affected his players before they settled into the game.
"When you’re starting out the World Cup, of course your legs will shake," Aguirre said. "Never in 25 years had anyone had any cramps but three of them had cramps today.
"We were in awe when we saw the stadium and they got a little bit of stage fright. But we never suffered. We could have scored four and it would have been completely different.”
Some sections of the home crowd booed the co-hosts during the closing stages of Thursday’s match, but Aguirre said supporters had every right to express their frustration.
"I didn't hear boos. But it could have been a 4-0 game. 2-0, is not so much. But we got three points, which is amazing," Aguirre said.
"If someone is booing, it's the Mexico players' obligation to make sure that doesn’t happen again. But it didn’t have an impact on us."
Mexico now turn their attention to upcoming matches against South Korea and the Czech Republic, although Aguirre dismissed suggestions that finishing top of the group was a priority.
"We're zero obsessed to win the group," he said. "Today we're just focused on Korea. It’s not relevant. It’s not our priority. Our priority is to focus on Korea, to keep going step by step and prepare for the future."
South Africa coach Hugo Broos, meanwhile, accepted the first red card shown to Sphephelo Sithole shortly after the break but questioned the decision that saw substitute Themba Zwane sent off late in the match.
"The first red card, I don't think we have to say something about it but the second red card I think the Mexican player blocked my player, the referee decides something else," he said. "So it is a pity that we have to finish this game with nine players.
"I think my team played a good game, some moments in the game Mexico even desperate, they didn't know how to find the spaces. But we must try and be better in the next game when we have the ball."
