Aguirre blames World Cup debut nerves, plans changes for Korea match

Javier Aguirre turned Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa into a warning about World Cup growing pains. He said up to 10 players were living their first World Cup minutes against a South African side that exposed nerves, even in victory, and he is already preparing changes for the next test against South Korea.

Aguirre’s blunt assessment centered on pressure rather than panic. He said the opening match at the Estadio Ciudad de México weighed on several players, especially with the tournament starting at home and the crowd so close to the pitch. Mexico still controlled the game, and Aguirre believed it could have been far more lopsided, but he said the side lacked the finishing edge to turn superiority into a rout.

That self-criticism fits the broader question hanging over Mexico’s start: were the mistakes simply the product of debut nerves, or were they signs of deeper structural weakness? The answer may be both. The team showed enough control to beat South Africa 2-0, yet the combination of World Cup pressure, inexperience and visible physical strain, including cramps for several players, suggested a side still learning how to manage the emotional cost of a home opener.

The most immediate correction appears to be in defense. César Montes will not be available for the second match because of suspension, and reports around the squad indicate Edson Álvarez is expected to come in for him. Aguirre is also weighing at least three changes in the lineup for South Korea, with Jorge Sánchez and Gilberto Mora among the names being discussed as he looks to steady a back line that could not be left unchanged.

Aguirre has tried to move the conversation forward quickly. He said Mexico had already put the first match behind it and was now focused on South Korea and Chequia, a sign that the staff sees the debut as a lesson rather than a setback. The next line of evaluation will be whether Álvarez can absorb some of the instability, or whether Mexico’s opening-night nerves were only the first symptom of a bigger adjustment still to come.