Mexico coach Aguirre recalls 1986 World Cup as hosts prepare for opener

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre drew on memories of Mexico's last home World Cup on Wednesday as he prepared to lead the hosts into the tournament opener, four decades after taking the field as a player at the Estadio Azteca.

Mexico launch the World Cup on Thursday carrying the expectations of a football-mad nation, but Aguirre said no experience in his 50 years in the game compared with the emotions of a World Cup on home soil.

"I have not had a greater emotion in 50 years in football than a World Cup at home," Aguirre told reporters on the eve of the Group A clash.

"It is something unforgettable."

Aguirre was part of Mexico's squad at the 1986 World Cup and played in the opening match against Belgium at the Azteca — as did South Africa's coach Hugo Broos — before later guiding the team at the 2002 and 2010 tournaments.

Now in his third spell as coach, the 67-year-old said he had tried to pass on the confidence he felt as a player to a squad preparing to experience a home World Cup for the first time.

"I remember the confidence with which we went out to face Belgium," he said.

"I want to transmit to the players that it can be a great day for us, that it can be a celebration that will be remembered for decades."

Aguirre said his team were ready for the challenges that come with opening the tournament in front of more than 80,000 fans, stressing "it is not only about football, it is emotional balance."

Mexico are widely viewed as favourites to beat South Africa but Aguirre said home advantage would only help if his players managed the pressure.

"You cannot go crazy," he said.

"Everyone wants to finish the game in the first half, but this lasts 90 minutes."

Mexico will try to make history on Thursday, with the hosts still seeking their first win in a World Cup opening match after seven previous attempts, a statistic Aguirre said he only learned when it was put to him at the press conference.

"Then we have one more reason to win tomorrow," he said.

"We will break that statistic."

South Africa are certainly not going to be made to feel welcome at the Azteca tonight.

However, midfielder Teboho Mokoena said South Africa wanted to embrace the occasion while giving themselves the best chance of reaching the knockout stage.

"We want to be competitive and see ourselves go to the next round," Mokoena said.

The 29-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder knows the team are going to be up against it, with 85,000 locals all demanding success from their heroes.

However, that support does not translate to instant success.

Mexico are still seeking their first victory in a World Cup opening match after seven previous attempts.

"We don't have pressure," the Bafana Bafana midfielder said,

"The pressure is on Mexico, the host. So for us as a team, we know what is expected of us, and we know how much we've prepared for this game and this tournament."

These two sides actually met in the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, drawing 1-1 after Siphiwe Tshabalala scored one of the tournament's most memorable goals.

Mokoena said South Africa's goal will be to enjoy the experience as much as possible.

"We must be here to enjoy the experience," he said.

"When you go home, you must not go home with regrets."

There have been a number of changes to the rules of play at this World Cup, which FIFA has brought in weeks ahead of the tournament.

The main aim is designed to reduce time-wasting — which I am sure we're all OK with — but also allows for an increased use of VAR — which I am equally sure we are not.

"These amendments are aimed at combating discrimination, reducing time-wasting, improving the tempo of matches and enhancing the experience of players and fans," FIFA said in a statement.

So what are these new rule changes?

The five second count down

If a referee believes a player or goalkeeper is taking too long to take a goal kick, they will begin a visible five-second countdown using their hand.

If the ball has not been put back into play before the countdown expires, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

The same procedure will apply to throw-ins, with the throw in reversed.

A few other sports have rules like this, water polo springing to mind as one.

10 seconds to get off, or wait a minute

Any player who is being substituted will have 10 seconds to leave the field.

If he fails to do so, the substitute must wait until the first stoppage in play occurring at least one minute later before entering.

This actually happened in a pre-World Cup friendly between Iceland and Japan, when Kristian Hlynsson took too long to exit the field when being subbed. As such, Isak Thorvaldsson was not allowed on for at least a minute.

What do you reckon happened in that minute?

Koki Ogawa scored to give Japan a 1-0 win. Lesson learned.

The same rule applies to injured players.

Anyone receiving treatment on the field must leave the pitch and can only return at least one minute after play has restarted.

There are some exceptions to this though, for goalkeepers and if the opponent is booked or sent off.

Don't cover your mouth

Players may not cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents, and if one does so deliberately, he may be sent off.

The change comes after several controversies in Europe, most notably Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior.

In February, the Real Madrid forward accused his Benfica opponent of making racist remarks, but because the player's mouth was covered, no offence of racism could be proven.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho backed Prestianni to the hilt at the time, believing his player over Vinicius.

But now he's manager of Real, so that might be an interesting conversation.

VAR expanded

VAR can now review clearly unjustified second yellow cards, cases of mistaken identity, wrongly awarded corners and attacking fouls before free-kicks or corners that directly affect goals, penalties or disciplinary outcomes.

Don't walk off in protest

No more repeats of the farcical end to the Africa Cup of Nations with this rule.

Anyone who leaves the field in protest at a referee's decision may receive a red card, and team officials who encourage players to leave the field in protest against a referee's decision may also be sent off.

OK, if you're expecting the two teams to walk out down the tunnel, line up in front of their flags and then get going for the match like they have done for almost every other match in history, you're in for a surprise this World Cup.

Indeed, FIFA has unveiled what it describes as "a bold new vision for pre-match ceremonies".

This, they say, is designed to "deepen the connection between players and fans while elevating a moment already rich with anticipation."

Hmmm.

FIFA says it will involve everyone in the stadium with its new "immersive, 360-degree concept" to ensure that no matter where people are seated, they are still a part of the pre-match introductions.

I guess, given everyone has paid VIP prices for their tickets, it's nice that everyone is being treated like VIPs.

Anyway, we're told that players will enter the pitch from the side closest to their tunnel through a dedicated arch, before a range of additional visual elements centred around the centre circle will unfold.

Then, each player will step into a spotlight around the centre circle banner for the national anthems.

This, we're told, ensures that "every individual — not just the starting XI — experiences that symbolic moment of pride and emotion when representing their country on football's greatest stage."

Sure.

Anyway, here's what FIFA boss Gianni Infantino says.

"As the FIFA World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced," he said

"Having all players and referees face each other in the centre circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that truly belongs to the teams and to everyone in the stadium.

"The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that."

So there you go.

Let's get one thing straight.

As much as FIFA tries to tell us that this game is happening at the Mexico City Stadium, this is the Azteca and will always be called the Azteca. OK? Good.

Now we've got that banality out the way, we can talk about one of football's greatest cathedrals.

There is a reason why this stadium is legend among football fans.

This great ground hosted the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986.

Those were finals featuring two of the greatest players to ever walk the earth in two of the greatest teams to ever play the game.

Pelé's Brazil won the title here in 1970,

Their 4-1 victory over Italy in the final, one of the most complete games of football ever played by a team in history, gave Brazil its third World Cup title, which allowed them to permanently keep the Jules Rimet Trophy.

With Carlos Alberto as captain, Pelé was just one star in a galaxy of talent, with Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino and Tostão among them, giving rise to the theory that this was the best team ever.

And they played and won one of the best ever World Cups - no tournament before or since has had more goals scored per game than this one.

After that though came Argentina and Maradona in 1986.

This tournament was Maradona's greatest triumph, and the Azteca provided the backdrop to two of football's most storied moments.

In the quarter final Maradona weaved his way through a broken swathe of England defenders on his way to scoring the greatest individual goal of the 20th century.

Sure, he also shamelessly cheated to punch the ball past Peter Shilton in the incident that will forever be known as the Hand of God, but that dichotomy is Maradona to a tee.

The stadium also hosted the final of the non-FIFA recognised 1971 Women's World Cup, won by Denmark in front of a crowd of over 110,000.

The capacity for this tournament is 83,000 but it is still a formidable venue whose name - real name that is - will echo throughout eternity as the first stadium to host matches at three World Cups.