VIDEO: Eastick expects another tough test
By Nicholas Veevers in Cartagena
Thursday, 04 August, 2011
Head Coach aims to be 'pragmatic' with his team's plans against Mexico.
Watch FATV's highlights of the press conference by clicking here now.
England U20s Head Coach Brian Eastick believes his team will face their toughest test yet on Thursday evening when they take on Mexico in their final Group F game of the World Cup in Cartagena.
The Young Lions know that a win will be enough to take them through to the knock-out stages, whilst the Mexicans only need a point to secure their progress, so an intriguing game lies in wait.
"We think it's going to be another very difficult game, they all seem to get more difficult for us," said Eastick.
"Korea was a tough game, Argentina was tougher and now we play Mexico, who will probably be the toughest of them all.
"The humidity at 5pm when we play will be worse than an 8pm kick-off and for a European team, particularly against Mexico, it will be hard.
"Mexico will be used to the conditions a lot more than we are, so I think that will favour the Mexicans.
"We need to make the game is close and balanced and that will mean we are in with a chance of winning the match."
England have yet to score a goal in their first two games, despite having created opportunities against both Korea DPR and Argentina but Eastick believes his team have a right to be cautious against a side as offensively gifted as Mexico.
"It will be unrealistic of me to ask the players to go and win the game 3-0 or 4-0, I have to be pragmatic," he explained.
"They're a very good offensive team with very good technique. I think their strength is in their forward areas and their wing backs.
"I would like to think we could exploit one or two weaknesses in their back line but that will depend on what we are like when we have possession of the ball."