"We want to do better than we did on home soil in 1970 and in 1986... to go further than the quarter-finals."

He also praised the team's massive support.

Over 30,000 Mexico fans were estimated to be in Nuremberg and they were delighted when goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez was named in the team just over 24 hours after returning from his father's Guadalajara funeral.

"It was a dream for us that Oswaldo played," he said. "That gave us more stability. It was like a home game for us today in that atmosphere."

Sanchez thanked his team mates for giving him flowers before the game and and then produced one outstanding first-half save.

"I know my father was watching me from Heaven and I thank the team for the flowers," he said. "It is a nice feeling to know that they are thinking of you."