Ochoa, Guardado be a part of unique World Cup five-timers membership
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa says individuals nonetheless come as much as him on the road to gush about his efficiency within the 2014 World Cup in opposition to Brazil.
Ochoa made six saves within the scoreless draw with Brazil, which was among the many favorites because the event’s host. He even denied Brazilian star Neymar on a header and afterward referred to as it the “recreation of a lifetime.”
“I really feel actually grateful to be acknowledged globally, meaning you will have carried out good work,” Ochoa mentioned Tuesday.
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A towering fixture on Mexico’s roster since 2005, the 6-foot goalkeeper recalled the match eight years in the past as he ready to play in his fifth World Cup. Mexico opens the event on Tuesday in opposition to Poland in Group C. Argentina and Saudi Arabia are additionally within the group.
“I’ve seen how he performs within the World Cups and he has all the time been a genius. I particularly bear in mind what occurred in 2014 and, to be sincere, he is a superb goalkeeper, with quite a lot of expertise, Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny mentioned.
Ochoa is amongst 4 gamers in Qatar who will be a part of an unique group with 5 World Cup appearances, together with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Mexico teammate Andrés Guardado.
Earlier than Qatar, there have been solely 4 gamers within the five-time membership: Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon, Germany’s Lothar Matthaus and Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal and Rafa Márquez.
Guardado and Guillermo Ochoa maintain the excellence of being the primary teammates to play collectively in 5 straight World Cups.
Each made their debuts with the Mexican nationwide staff on Dec. 14, 2005, a 2-0 pleasant victory over Hungary.
“I believe that by being in my fifth World Cup I’m fortunate,” Ochoa mentioned by an interpreter. “On high of that, being in a World Cup is rarely simple for a footballer. There are nice gamers all through historical past who don’t have the chance. For me, taking part in in 5 has been great.”
Mexico has appeared within the final eight World Cups and has superior to the knockout spherical within the final seven.
Mexico additionally has oldest participant on the World Cup, fellow goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, who’s 40. Ochoa is 37, whereas Guardado is 36.