MEXICO CITY, June 24 (Reuters) - Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his team's mentality on Wednesday after they upped the tempo in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory against the Czech Republic in their final Group A match of the World Cup.
With the victory, Mexico advance to the knockout phase as group winners.
• "I didn't like the first 20 minutes, but then we settled down, the team recovered, and that's where we showed the power of mental strength," he said at a press conference.
• The Mexican coach, who led the side at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, said that while the performance was good "we always have a few things to work on".
• Aguirre, 67, said his team's mentality is essential to keep progressing at the World Cup, where they will look to move beyond the quarter-finals for the first time.
• "I think we've improved in that area, that mentality of 'Well, that's it, we've done our part.' This group has character," he said.
(Reporting by Diego Oré; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
