MIAMI, Florida – When it comes to the Mexican National Team and the FIFA World Cup, a subject that always comes up is the “fifth game,” the ‘quinto partido’, referring to Mexico’s pursuit of reaching the quarterfinal stage of the tournament, something that has not happened since 1986.

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, El Tricolor will once again launch an effort to make it into the final eight, and if it were to happen, you can count former Mexico GK Moises Munoz as one of many who will celebrate its grand achievement.

“It would mean a lot. It would mean everything for the fans in Mexico. It would be historic and after that, a celebration day for the entire country,” said Munoz in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com. “If they can get to that fifth game, that would be like lifting the World Cup. It would be tremendous. I think the Mexico players will give it all on the pitch and rise up to the moment,” added Munoz.

Mexico find themselves in a very difficult Group C along with Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. El Tricolor open with Poland on Tuesday in what could well decide Mexico’s chances of advancing past the group stage. Munoz has all the confidence in the world that Mexico will get the job done.

“They are going to have a great match against Poland. I know the Mexico player, I know their personality. I know that when people don’t believe in the national team, the Mexico player then gives it their all on the pitch and I think they’ll do that against Poland. Against Argentina, there is no pressure there. Everyone expects them to lose that match, but I think they’ll play a good match against Argentina and then they have to win the last match,” said Munoz.

Munoz hails Mexico as a strong unit under Head Coach Gerardo Martino, and believes that the confidence they gather during the tournament will serve as a driving force. At an individual level, there are also players that can tip things in Mexico’s favor.

“I think it’s the individual skills of the players. I think [Hirving] “Chucky” Lozano is going to have a great tournament. I think Alexis Vega is a great player and will have a good World Cup and I’m pretty confident on the defensive side that [GK] Memo Ochoa is going to have a great World Cup like he has in the past two. That will give a lot of confidence to the players up top, just knowing that with one goal it will probably be enough to win the match,” said Munoz.

As a former Mexico goalkeeper himself, Munoz can only look on in amazement at the exploits of Ochoa in goal, especially under the bright lights of a World Cup.

Mexico's players gather for a team photo before square off Panama in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at the estadio Azteca on November 13, 2015.

“Memo represents everything on defense. From my point of view, whatever he can deliver on the pitch is going to be what the entire team is going to show. If Memo Ochoa comes up big on his saves and his leadership on the pitch, that is going to be big and a boost of confidence for the rest of the players. He’s a great goalkeeper. He’s shown it in the past two World Cups,” said Munoz.

On the other side of things, Munoz notes it will be crucial for Mexico to stay focused when the opponent has a free kick or a dead ball opportunity.

Miguel Layun at left, Mosies Munoz center and Andres Guardado walks at the Estadio Azteca on November 13, 2015 prior to the match up against El Salvador in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“Set pieces are going to be very important for Mexico. They have to go and try to clear that ball every time. They cannot let a team like Poland and Robert Lewandowski have opportunities on set pieces.

“After that, I think they have a weakness up top because they have no scored a lot of goals. I don’t think they are going to break through on goalscoring in this World Cup, but if they can keep a clean sheet in the back, that is going to be good news for Mexico. One goal has to be enough,” concluded Munoz.