MEXICO'S PLAYERS LOOKED UNPERTURBED AHEAD OF THEIR CRUNCH GROUP D MATCH WITH PORTUGAL, LAUGHING, JOKING AND SCREECHING LIKE BIRDS IN TRAINING AT THE ARENA AUFSCHALKE STADIUM ON TUESDAY, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE PLAYERS TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EMPTY STADIUM, TRIED TO BOUNCE KICKS OFF THE DROP-DOWN VIDEO SCREEN AND LOOKED ANYTHING BUT NERVOUS BEFORE WEDNESDAY'S WORLD CUP GAME IN WHICH THEY NEED A DRAW TO GUARANTEE A PLACE IN THE LAST 16. "BEFORE THE GAMES WE ALWAYS TRAIN LIKE THIS," SAID MIDFIELDER PAVEL PARDO. ""WE PRACTICE IN THE MORNING, AND BEFORE THE GAMES WE GO TO THE STADIUM AND JUST RELAX, STRETCH A BIT, AND THAT'S IT." ASKED ABOUT THE SQUAWKING, PARDO SAID IT WAS TO TRY TO LIFT THE TEAM TO A BETTER PERFORMANCE. "YOU KNOW LIKE AN EAGLE YOU CAN FLY VERY HIGH, AND TOMORROW WE HOPE TO DO THAT. TOMORROW WE HAVE TO WIN AND WE HAVE TO PLAY BETTER," HE SAID. DESPITE THE PLAYFUL PREPARATIONS, PARDO SAID THE MEXICANS WANTED TO IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE, PARTICULARLY IN ATTACK, AFTER THEY SQUANDERED CHANCES IN A GOALLESS DRAW WITH ANGOLA. "WE HAVE TO BE BETTER AND, FOR US, TOMORROW'S MATCH IS AS IMPORTANT AS A FINAL," HE SAID. INJURED STRIKER JARED BORGETTI, WHO HAD BEEN RULED OUT OF THE REMAINING GROUP GAMES AFTER STRAINING HIS LEFT HAMSTRING, SAID HE COULD COME ON AS A SUBSTITUTE AGAINST PORTUGAL. AFTER TRAINING HE WAS ASKED HOW HIS LEG WAS AND, GESTURING TO COACH RICARDO LA VOLPE, REPLIED: "GOOD. MAYBE TOMORROW I WILL GET A CHANCE FOR 10 OR 15 MINUTES. IT DEPENDS..." PORTUGAL HAVE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE LAST 16.
