Mexico need fear no-one, says Torrado

Mexico’s national team defenders Hector Herrera (R) and Gerardo Torrado dispute the ball during a training session at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on June 15, 2013. Mexico will face Italy on June 16. (AFP/Getty Images)

Mexico veteran Gerardo Torrado believes recent successes have given his side the belief that they can compete with the world’s best, ahead of their Confederations Cup opener with Italy on Sunday.

The Central American powerhouses claimed gold at last year’s London Olympics and their junior sides have excelled in recent years, twice winning the Under-17 World Cup and taking third place at the Under-20 World Cup in 2011.

Mexico have beaten Italy just once in 11 previous encounters, but Torrado says they no longer approach such matches fearing the worst.

“We’ve got rid of that inferiority complex we once had,” he told the FIFA website ahead of the game at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana.

“These days, Mexican players know they can compete and they’ve got the belief and the technique to succeed.”

Hosts Brazil snatched the early initiative in Group A with a 3-0 win over Japan in the tournament opener on Saturday.

It means Mexico face a stern test to reach the semi-finals, but Torrado says that repeating their 1999 Confederations Cup triumph on home soil was never going to be a straightforward task.

“It won’t be easy, but then the Confederations Cup never is,” said the 34-year-old Cruz Azul midfielder, who is the most experienced player in the Mexico squad with 140 caps.

“You’re up against the best teams in the world and the competition is very stiff. All the same, I think we’ll have some good games. I think Mexico will perform well and we’ll be looking to go as far as possible.”