Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio (pictured) yells out instruction during an international friendly against Ireland on June 1, 2017, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images) 

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Four days after falling 2-1 to Croatia, Mexico rebounded with a 3-1 win over Ireland on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

It was the Tricolor’s last tune-up before the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup resumes with a pair of home matches at the Estadio Azteca against Honduras (June 8) and the United States (June 11). 

In his post-match press conference, Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio spoke about his team’s victory and what lies ahead. 

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS 

“In general terms, I think it was a good exercise.  I think that we had other chances to score more goals.  I think that we were better in the 90 minutes and that we were rightful winners.  I am very satisfied with the performance of the players who played and that shouldn’t generate doubts.  On the contrary, it obliges that the selection be done in much more detail in order to have the team that will give us the result.  

HELPFUL FRIENDLIES 

“I think these two matches have been very good for our preparation and we will be able to show it next week in the qualifying matches.”

HONDURAS ON THE HORIZON: 

“We really respect Honduran football.  We believe it is very different, for example, in the idea of play, totally different than that of Croatia or Ireland.  Surely it is going to generate another type of response in both our offensive and defensive performances.  We believe that it will be a tough opponent, but we have been preparing well.  The least we expect is that they have a match as difficult as the one we will have.”