MEXICO-ANGOLA: Players' Quotes

16 June 2006

JOAO RICARDO (ANG), Budweiser Man of the Match
We are sure that this game will give a better image of our country and we are putting in a very strong effort also for Africa. We gave everything in the game, we are very inexperienced and that was a great result.

Rafael MARQUEZ(MEX)
We let our chance to qualify slip away because we couldn’t put the ball in the net. But we controlled possession, got to the edge of their box and we were dangerous. The team did what it had to, but we didn’t get lucky. But there were still lots of good things that we can take from the game.

Carlos SALCIDO (MEX)
It was our game, but we just didn’t get the rub of the green to get a goal. It means that qualification is now a little more complicated, but we’re not too concerned because we’re in good form. Their goalkeeper did very well.

Ricardo OSORIO (MEX)
Our approach was positive. Angola set out their stall not to concede, and no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t score. It feels more like a defeat than a draw, but qualification is in our own hands. We’ve got four points, and all is not lost. Their goalkeeper deserved to be man of the match.

Antonio NAELSON (MEX)
We know that we didn’t play worse than they did, but we didn’t have the intelligence to break the deadlock. But it hasn’t made things any more difficult, because it’s still in our hands. The problem was that they had a very defensive game plan, and we didn’t have the composure to knock the ball around as well as we’d have liked.

Pavel PARDO (MEX)
Tonight we played better than against Iran, but obviously we’re not completely happy because we dominated the game and didn’t score. But it doesn’t make qualification any harder because we have four points now. The game against Portugal is going to be more difficult but we’re ready and we’re capable of winning the game. Football is like life; you have good days and bad days, and tonight didn’t go well for us.

MATEUS (ANG)
We couldn’t make any real inroads in attack because we had to defend all the time. The Mexico team are very strong in attack, but we deserved this result.

AKWA (ANG)
We had a chance to make a goal, but there were some failures in the game. But I thought the game was very good, this is like a victory for us because we had only ten players for a time and we have never played in a World Cup before. We don’t have much experience and we were nervous at the start because of this. Our Man of the Match was our goalkeeper Joao Ricardo.

ANDRE (ANG)
I’m really sorry because I can’t participate in the next game (due to an expulsion in the 79th minute). I was a little bit naive. But I don’t regret it in a way because it stopped an attack. I’m sure we are going to win our next game against Iran.

FIGUEIREDO (ANG)
We did not have too many chances to win, but we have a lot of hope. We have not scored so far, but we have played against two of the strongest teams in the world (Portugal and Mexico). We are at the beginning, but we know with more experience we will get better results – remember, Mexico are ranked very high in the ratings.

MANTORRAS (ANG)
Our goal was a victory, but we know we are at the beginning as a team. If I can play from the start I know I will give it all for the honour of my country. I know for sure Angola will be happy with the result.