Mexico boss Javier Aguirre puts England on notice and sets record straight on FIFA controversy

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre has put England on notice ahead of their Azteca Stadium clash on Sunday night at 1am UK time, insisting his side can challenge the Three Lions.

The 67-year-old, leading Mexico for the third time, views this final match in charge as his greatest moment. He will step down after the World Cup to be replaced by his defensive coach and former defender Rafael Marquez.

Aguirre expressed confidence: "I have many different feelings in my heart. But the best is yet to come. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day. There are a lot of different stories there for me, my parents won't be there but my two granddaughters will be there. Listening to the national anthem will go with me and none of them are more important than another but the best is tomorrow I'm sure."

He added: "If I didn't believe we could I'd tell you I firmly believe in how we play and I believe that the team who makes less mistakes will win. The pressure is always the same. If it's here or in Mexico or the US there's always pressure and that's good as it makes you better."

Regarding England's captain and top scorer, Aguirre acknowledged Harry Kane's threat: "Harry Kane is a star. The goals he has scored with the team and with he's a top top player in the world. He's tall and good at defending and the captain."

On the FIFA controversy surrounding the kick-off time, Aguirre set the record straight. He described FIFA's plan to move the kick-off forward as "a kick in the stomach," but insisted he had not been fooled when the time was later kept at 6pm local time, 1am in Britain.

"Fooled? I was told the match would be played at a different time and I said I wasn't happy with the change. A day before the match it was inconvenient and that's all I said," he explained.