Mexico's Carlos Salcedo believes the key to a good performance from El Tri in its World Cup opener on June 17 against Germany is not letting the reigning champions dictate play.
The 24-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt center-back knows the German game well and thinks the conditioning work the Mexico national team has put in ahead of the tournament will allow El Tri to carry out its game-plan.
"[Germany] is an opponent that doesn't feel comfortable pressing and that's what the physical work we've been doing is for because if we don't leave them spaces they aren't as comfortable," said Salcedo in an interview with ESPN.
"Not letting them play will be important because physically we are really good and that will help a lot in the approach that the coach wants."
Salcedo believes Mexico's all-action style will be boosted by coach Juan Carlos Osorio's rotations during the World Cup, if the Colombian decides to change up the starting teams.
"I see it with my club as well and it is very normal because if you look in Europe you play a lot of games," said Salcedo.
"With Fiorentina I played Europa League and the travel was very tiring.
"In the World Cup I believe that it is the same and the coach will take his time in planning the games depending on the opponent and the minutes played at club level.
"It's important to have the players as fresh as possible without neglecting the points, which are the most important to advance."
And while Osorio continues to take criticism within Mexico, Salcedo is backing the work of the 56-year-old heading into Russia 2018.
"In the end those that are there day-to-day see how he works," the former Chivas player said. "The most important thing is that the group believes in what the coach says and does."
