Argentina coach, Diego Maradona, has again dismissed suggestions his team are one of the favourites to lift the 2010 World Cup.
Argentina posted a perfect record in a first round group that also included South Korea, Nigeria and Greece.
However, Maradona has maintained his team will not get carried away by their impressive showing thus far.
“We’re here to fight and it’s not true we are one of the favourites. When the road gets short and narrow, that’s where history begins. This is a fight for history and we will fight for history.
The players know that,” Maradona told a crowded press conference on Saturday.
“I have told the players that when you win, you should not go all the way. You need to tread firmly and carefully.
“We’re in great shape and we’re not carried away from being nobody in your country, where we were a disaster and the worst team they have ever seen, to become an excellent team after winning three matches at the World Cup.
“You don’t have to believe everybody, rather you should go on doing what you want to do and work the way you want to work.” Argentina will take on Mexico in a Round of 16 clash on Sunday at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
Both teams have clashed 25 times, with Argentina winning 11 of those matches, while 10 ended in draws.
Argentina edged past Mexico 2-1 in a Round of 16 clash at the 2006 World Cup in Leipzig, Germany, with goals from Hernan Crespo and Maxi Rodriguez.
“It’s going to be a tough match, but with the players we have, we can move forward. We have won our first matches and now we start building, mentally and physically, towards the next step,” Maradona added
“We’re going to respect Mexico because I believe they have quality to go on at this tournament. They have players like Giovani dos Santos who have worried us, (Guillermo) Franco is good in the air and (Javier) Hernandez moves well in attack.” Italy-based defender Walter Samuel, who is nursing a hamstring injury, remains a big doubt for this match, while Jonas Gutierrez and Sebastian Veron did not train on Friday.
