As reported by AP, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has explained that his detailed preparation for his nation’s game with Poland at the World Cup in Qatar this week lead to his pivotal penalty save from Robert Lewandowski, which preserved a draw for his side in Group C. Ochoa said:
“I’ve worked on this these last two weeks, or maybe a month, with our goalkeeper coach Gustavo Pinero. But it’s always difficult when you watch videos of Lewandowski’s penalties. It’s complicated because you watch more than 15 or 20 penalties, so you never know which side to choose. At the end I’m happy to save the penalty. He’s a great striker.”
Ochoa, now 37, meanwhile, says he is grateful to have made it to his fifth World Cup but is focusing on reaching the latter stages with Mexico:
“We have a tough opponent in the next game, but Mexico is also a tough opponent. We’ve worked really hard. We’ve prepared ourselves. There have been great players in history who never had a chance to play at a World Cup, so for me to have the chance to play five is amazing. But, of course, I want this World Cup to be very different and to be the best of all time for Mexico.”
GWFN
