The Mexicans have repeatedly failed to go beyond the last 16 in recent decades, but the West Ham United striker nicknamed Chicharito wants this time to be different.

Mexico have one foot in the last 16 once more having won both their Group F matches, and Hernandez told reporters: “The best things about dreams is to share them, share them with people like you who are dreamers.

“Like you, were are not just dreamers, but work hard to make those dreams come true.”

He added: “We want to accomplish the impossible.”

The 30-year-old striker’s goal in the 2-1 victory over South Korea on Saturday made him the first Mexican player to score 50 goals for his country (in 104 appearances).

It was also further evidence — coupled with a 1-0 victory over reigning world champions Germany — that Mexico can erase the pain of recent history.

They have never won the World Cup and the last time they went beyond the last 16 was in 1986, on home turf, when they were beaten on penalties in the quarter-finals by what was then West Germany.

That equalled the best appearance by Mexico at a World Cup.

Mexico must finish the job in the group stages against Sweden on Wednesday at Yekaterinburg Arena, where a point will be enough to see them through.

Mexico have six points and are top of the group with their opponents Sweden and Germany battling it out on three.

“We still have not qualified but who would have said we would have six points by now?” asked Hernandez, a former Manchester United forward who always appears happiest wearing the green of his country.

“I try to look at life as a great opportunity, it is going to be a great match.

Prom, a two-time Asian Tour winner but not since 2014, came agonisingly close to ending his title drought on the same venue six months ago before finishing one shot back in second place. He is hopeful of putting up another title run when the US$300,000 event gets underway this week.

The 33-year-old Prom has enjoyed a commendable season so far, missing just one cut in 10 starts to sit in 19th place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings with a current haul of US$117,085.

He will spearhead the strong Thai contingent alongside young talents Panuphol Pittayarat, Jazz Janewattananond and Poom Saksansin, as well as former Order of Merit champion Thaworn Wiratchant, who also won the prestigious tournament twice in 2012 and 2014.

Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang is relishing a return to his winning ground where he claimed his breakthrough victory two years ago.

Having established himself as one of the most successful players from Chinese Taipei with two Asian Tour wins and five Asian Development Tour (ADT) victories, the 32-year-old Chan hopes to regain some of his best form when he steps up to the tee on his favourite hunting ground.

Young Thai talent Jazz Janewattananond hopes to go one better in his title charge at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak while Indian hotshot Gaganjeet Bhullar is looking to sharpen his short game for a successful title assault this week.

A total of 150 players from 25 different countries, including 40 Tour champions, will challenge for honours at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak, which is celebrating its 10th consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this season.

The Queen’s Cup, held in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, welcomed a new presenting sponsor in Bangchak Corporation, one of Thailand’s leading energy companies, this season.

The former World Junior No 1, who just reached the quarter-finals in the US Open a few weeks ago, put up a gutsy fight to upset the world No 5 in 48 minutes.

“I’m so happy to beat Chen Long as he is the Olympic champion. I stuck to my attacking game and it worked,” said the 19-year-old Kantaphon.

The win over Chen was his second major upset this year after he knocked out another Olympic gold medalist Lin Dan of China 21-15 21-19 in the February’s Indonesia Open.

“Beating Chen Long and Lin Dan in the same year really gives me a lot of confidence. It proves that all the hard work paid off.”

However the 19-year-old Thai will have another tough assignment waiting him in round two as he is to face Indonesian world No 24 Tommy Sugiarto who ousted him in straight games 21-17 21-11 in the Thailand Masters final last year.

Former Thai No 1 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, playing his first match in several months, beat Anders Antonsen of Denmark 21-14 21-15. But SEA Games silver medalist Khosit Phetpradab, the current Thai No 1, was sent packing by world No 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 17-21 21-18 13-21.

Ratchanok Intanon 

On the women’s side, Ratchanok Intanon shrugged off a sluggish start to beat Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark 21-19 21-12. Nitchaon Jindapol beat Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia 21-11 21-15 while Pornpawee Chochuwong moved past Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark 21-16 21-10.

Nitchaon Jindapol 

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Last year’s event broke record with close to 10,000 enrolled participants. The presence of Disney•Pixar characters, many of whom are household names to families from Hong Kong and the region, will certainly take the fun of running to a new level.

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“Disney•Pixar stories and characters are an important part of the guest experience at our destinations around the world. We are bringing more fun to this year’s ‘10K Weekend’ at Hong Kong Disneyland with strong character experiences from Disney•Pixar movies,” said Samuel Lau, managing director of HKDL. “The 10K Weekend is the perfect chance for families and friends to enjoy the magic of Disney while they experience the joy of exercise.”

Sweden were on course for the last 16 until Toni Kroos stepped up with a wonderful winner in the fifth minute of injury time to rescue the reigning champions 2-1 in a Saturday-night thriller.

It left Group F on a knife-edge going into the final round of games on Wednesday, when Sweden face Mexico in Yekaterinburg while at the same time Germany play South Korea in Kazan.

Mexico have six points and one foot in the knockout rounds, with Germany and the Swedes both on three points and with the same goal difference and having scored the same number.

Sweden will progress if they better Germany’s result.

Several Sweden players were left prone on the turf such was the late, excruciating nature of the defeat to Germany.

Andersson said: “The whole group is still alive so we will have to lick our wounds and come back for the last game.”

The 55-year-old, who accused Germany’s backroom staff of “rubbing it in our faces”, also needs to deal with the delicate fall-out surrounding his winger Jimmy Durmaz.

Durmaz, born in Sweden to Assyrian parents who emigrated from Turkey, was subjected to racial hatred and death threats on social media for giving away the foul that led to Kroos’s late winner.

The 29-year-old was moved to read out a statement to reporters at the team’s Black Sea coast base in Gelendzhik on Sunday, saying of the abuse: “Who the hell does such things?

“It is completely unacceptable.”

– Record-breaker –

The biggest problem for Mexico, who will have the majority of the Yekaterinburg Arena behind them on Wednesday, will be complacency.

A deserved 1-0 victory over Germany was followed by a 2-1 win against the Koreans to put them in control of the group, but they still need a point to make absolutely sure of reaching the knockout rounds.

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said Mexico are determined to secure the result they need to make sure of top spot, revealing that the squad is fired by criticism they received from home fans before arriving in Russia.

The Mexicans were booed during a friendly win over Scotland at the Azteca Stadium.

Several members of the squad, including Ochoa, were also lambasted for their presence at a farewell party attended by around 30 prostitutes.

“We always knew we would have to fight all the way to the last game,” Ochoa said.

“We remember everything this squad has been through. We haven’t forgotten hearing the boos at the Azteca, and that has strengthened us mentally,” Ochoa said.

West Ham United striker Javier Hernandez became the first Mexican player to score 50 goals for his country — in 104 appearances — with his strike against South Korea.

As West Ham fans know well, the 30-year-old can be hit and miss, yet “Chicharito” seems to reserve his best performances for the green of Mexico.

“He’s a great goalscorer, but offers a lot more than that,” said Mexico team-mate Miguel Layun.

“He’s an incredibly dynamic player. He makes four or five runs when others might just make one.

“And he’s always in the right place at the right time,” the Porto defender told FIFA.com.

The 45-year-old goalkeeper flew to his right to make a spectacular stop in the 39th minute from Fahad Al Muwallad’s spot-kick at the Volgograd Arena.

“I’m really so happy,” he told AFP after the match. “I’m the happiest person in the world to set this record.”

But El Hadary’s joy was tempered after Saudi Arabia fought back from Mohamed Salah’s superb opening goal to claim a consolation win.

Both Saudi goals came deep into stoppage time in both halves, with Salem Al-Dawsari securing their first World Cup victory since a run to the last 16 in 1994 with the last kick of the match.

“I can thank my teammates because they are the power that got me to the record but I’m really so sad on the other hand with the result,” added El Hadary.

Egypt still have not recorded a World Cup finals win in three appearances.

El Hadary was 45 years and 161 days old when he took to the field as the two already-eliminated teams in Group A played only for pride.

He smashed the age record set by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was aged 43 years and three days when he played against Japan in Brazil in 2014.

Salah was named in the starting line-up as expected and thrilled an Egyptian-dominated crowd of 36,823 by opening the scoring in trademark fashion after 22 minutes.

The 26-year-old controlled a long ball over the top with one touch of his left boot at pace and did not break stride before lobbing a deft finish with the same foot over the onrushing goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosailem.

Salah’s strike was Egypt’s first goal from open play at the World Cup since May 27, 1934, when Abdulrahman Fawzi netted in a 4-2 defeat by Hungary.

The Egyptians were still clinging onto their lead when the Saudis were awarded a controversial second penalty deep into first-half stoppage time as Fahad appeared to pull the shirt of the covering Ali Gabr before going down in a heap.

But after a VAR-induced review that took almost five minutes to complete, Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan decided to stick with his original decision.

It was second time lucky as Salman Al-Faraj took responsiblity for the spot kick and El Hadary could not repeat his heroics as the first-half clock ticked past 51 minutes.

El Hadary made his debut for Egypt in 1996, a year before his Egypt teammate Ramadan Sobhi was born.

He is older than three coaches at Russia 2018 — Roberto Martinez of Belgium, Serbia’s Mladen Krstajic and Aliou Cisse of Senegal.

The Pharaohs captain lived up to his nickname of “High Dam” with two stunning saves from headers in the second half.

But in the fifth minute of second-half injury-time, Al-Dawsari popped up in the box to beat El Hadary and secure a famous Saudi win.

Argentina’s do-or-die clash against Nigeria on Tuesday can be a launch pad for the team in Russia following a woeful start to the World Cup, insisted defiant coach Jorge Sampaoli.

Failure to beat the Africans will prolong Lionel Messi’s wait to win an international trophy, with the added humiliation of bowing out at the group stages without even winning a game.

A 3-0 thrashing by Croatia after Argentina opened with a 1-1 draw against Iceland saw calls for Sampaoli to be sacked amid reports of player unrest at his tactics and team selection.

But after a tumultuous week, including meetings between the squad, coach and Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia in recent days, Sampaoli tried to put a positive spin on the team’s fate.

“We have to make our goal five games to reach the final. Tomorrow will be the first final,” Sampaoli told reporters on the eve of the game in Saint Petersburg.

“No matter who plays tomorrow will have the obligation to give until the last bead of sweat so that Argentina will go through.

“We don’t have any alternative and I am sure this is how it will go. Tomorrow, I am sure that they will see the best version of Argentina at this World Cup.”

Sampaoli has been fiercely criticised for his inability to find a system to get the best out of Messi, but hit back at his treatment from what he described as press living in a “virtual world”.

“Losing a game of football makes you a loser. Sometimes in the virtual world, it makes you feel like a criminal for having lost a game of football.”

Argentina’s coach Jorge Sampaoli

– No mercy for Messi –

Messi, who turned 31 on Sunday, could be making his final World Cup appearance if Argentina fail to progress.

And Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said the Super Eagles will show no mercy for the Barcelona star, despite their admiration for his talent.

“We love this great player, Messi, everybody loves him,” said Rohr. “The question is not if it is the last World Cup for him or not, the question is for us to be qualified.

“We are not here to watch him playing. We are here to make a result, we are professionals.

“We are here to defend the colours of Nigeria and we know in football there is no mercy, no pity. Everybody wants to win and we cannot make any gifts even if we like very much this player.”

Nigerian defender Brian Idowu admitted he would love Messi’s shirt as a memento, but also wants to send Argentina packing.

“Our main goal is that it will be Messi’s last World Cup game, as much as footballers we love watching him play,” said Idowu, who was born in Saint Petersburg and still plays his club football in Russia for Amkar Perm.

“I would love of course to swap jerseys with him but I would love to swap jerseys with many players in the Argentinean side.”

Nigeria moved into second place in Group D behind already qualified Croatia by beating Iceland 2-0 thanks to an Ahmed Musa double.

However, that victory came at a cost as captain John Obi Mikel suffered a fracture in his left hand that means he will be forced to wear a cast if he is to face Argentina.

The injury-time goal from substitute Iago Aspas capped a dramatic finale to a Group B that Spain ended up topping after Iran levelled late against Portugal to draw 1-1 in Saransk.

But Hierro, himself a former centre back, said the team needed to work on its defence following a group stage that saw the 2010 winners ship five goals in three games.

“Obviously we can improve. Five goals in three matches is not the way forward. The players are professional, they understand what the situation is,” he told reporters.

Morocco took the lead in the 14th minute when Khalid Boutaib took advantage of a horrible mix-up between Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta to race through and slide the ball calmly through David De Gea’s legs.

Things nearly got even worse for La Roja, when Boutaib missed a golden chance put Morocco ahead for a second time after Isco had pulled Spain level.

The striker’s low one-on-one shot was saved by De Gea after both Ramos and Gerard Pique were caught napping with a quick throw in.

Hierro refused to single players out for criticism but promised his side would work collectively to shore things up at the back.

“You cannot hold individuals responsible for letting goals in. Everyone needs to defend as a team and that’s our style,” he said.

Isco’s goal was straight out of Spain’s World Cup winning playbook of 2010, with Diego Costa setting Iniesta free in the penalty area after some crisp one-touch passing.

The Barcelona man cut back with the outside of his right boot to Isco, who fired into the roof of Monir El-Kajoui’s net from six yards.

“We’re happy we’ve finished top of the group, that’s what we wanted. Maybe we wanted to feel differently after the match but we’re happy to go on. Now we are facing the moment of truth,” Isco said.

“I have complete faith in this team.”

– ‘Continue the adventure’ –

Morocco coach Herve Renard said before the game his team, the first to be eliminated this tournament, had been victim to “total injustice” in back-to-back 1-0 losses.

“We would have loved to beat Spain,” Renard said at full time. “We should be proud of what we’ve done, of the team and proud of the Moroccan public too.”

After a bright first half, Morocco sat back in the second period and invited Spain to try to break them down.

When they regained possession they broke with pace and purpose, and nearly took the lead after 55 minutes when Noureddine Amrabat’s right-foot scorcher from distance cannoned off the crossbar.

Isco’s header on the hour mark forced a goal-line clearance from Ghanem Saiss, chosen by Renard to start over captain Mehdi Benatia.

Morocco were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty 10 minutes from time when the ball struck Pique’s fist in the area.

They weren’t complaining minutes later, however, when substitute Youssef En-Nesyri headed home the corner that followed to the rapture of the Moroccan supporters.

As the 90 minutes wound down, Aspas’ clever flick from a corner was initially adjudged by the assistant referee to have been offside.

But after intervention from VAR it was given as a goal, much to the consternation of the Moroccan players and substitutes, some of whom stormed the pitch in protest.

Spain now play hosts Russia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday and Hierro said his team would be ready.

“We know it’s going to be tough with their fans at home but we do want to continue the adventure,” he said.

Despite his 37th birthday fast approaching, and having been stunned by Borna Coric in the Halle grasscourt final last weekend, Federer will still start Wimbledon as the overwhelming favourite to clinch a 21st major.

Federer set new records 12 months ago when he defeated a hobbling Marin Cilic in the final, becoming both the tournament’s oldest champion and first to claim eight titles.

That victory came after he decided to skip the entire claycourt season, a strategy he repeated this year as the Swiss sit at home watching Nadal romp to an 11th French Open.

“I’m really going to love going to Wimbledon but being the defending champion always creates pressure,” said Federer, who was quick to shrug off his loss to Coric which ended a 20-match win streak on grass.

A week earlier, he had been buoyed by capturing the grass court title at Stuttgart.

“Regardless of whether I won or lost in Halle I will be one of the favourites at Wimbledon.”

Federer won his first Wimbledon — and maiden Slam title — in 2003.

Since that time he has added seven more at the All England Club with Nadal winning twice, Novak Djokovic three times and Andy Murray taking two titles.

Lleyton Hewitt, back in 2002, was the last man outside the modern-day ‘Big Four’ to win the championship.

Hardly surprising then that Federer cannot see any great upheaval anytime soon, even tipping Nadal — and his notoriously unreliable knees on a grass court — to go deep in the tournament.

“I think Rafa is one of the big favourites,” said Federer who famously lost the 2008 final to the Spaniard in what is widely regarded as one of the finest Slam showdown of all time.

– ‘Rafa looking good’ –

“When Rafa is healthy, anything is possible for him.”

Nadal’s Grand Slam count now stands at 17, just three behind Federer with whom he has split the last six majors.

The world number one has endured a bittersweet relationship with Wimbledon despite being champion in 2008 and 2010.

He missed the 2009 tournament with injury and since finishing runner-up to Djokovic in 2011, has gone out in the second round in 2012, first round in 2013 and last 16 in 2014.

In 2015, he was beaten in the second round, missed 2016 while, 12 months ago, lost 15-13 in the fifth set to Luxembourg journeyman Gilles Muller in the fourth round.

After winning Roland Garros this month, Nadal hinted he may skip Wimbledon and also sat out Queen’s.

But the 32-year-old Spaniard has been practicing on grass in Mallorca and is cautiously optimistic.

“I had to spend time adapting physically and in my tennis to the surface,” said Nadal.

“I will certainly arrive at Wimbledon with less preparation, but I’m going with confidence high because I played very well through the whole claycourt season.”

Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 champion, retired with an elbow injury in the quarter-finals in 2017 as his form continued to sink after the emotional high of completing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros 12 months earlier.

Like Nadal, Djokovic had hinted he may sit out Wimbledon after the indignity of losing to world number 72 Marco Cecchinato in the French Open quarter-finals.

But the rejuvenated 12-time major winner shook off the self-doubt and made the Queen’s final at the weekend, losing to Cilic despite having had a match point.

Djokovic is at least back in the top 20 unlike 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon champion Murray who is ranked at 156.

Former number one Murray suffered a hip injury in a five-set loss to Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals in 2017 and underwent surgery in January.

The 31-year-old only returned at Queen’s losing a tough three-setter to Nick Kyrgios in his opener.

On Monday, however, he eased past fellow injury-plagued Slam winner Stan Wawrinka in straight sets in Eastbourne.

Elsewhere, a lot will be expected of world number three Alexander Zverev who made the fourth round last year.

However, the 21-year-old lost his only grass court match this summer to Coric in Halle.

Portugal will face Uruguay in the last 16 after advancing as runners-up of Group B, but Queiroz insisted Ronaldo deserved to be sent off for catching Iran defender Morteza Pouraliganji with an elbow to the face.

“I don’t want to talk too much, it’s about my country and a player. I know it’ll be a war against me,” said Queiroz, who coached his native Portugal at the 2010 World Cup.

“But the reality is you stopped the game for VAR, there is an elbow. An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn’t say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo…”

It was a busy evening for the video assistant referee in Saransk as two penalties were awarded upon review, on top of the Ronaldo altercation.

“We accepted human mistakes before, that was part of the game. Players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes and referees make mistakes,” said Queiroz.

“But now you have one system that cost a fortune. It’s high-tech with five, six people inside and what happens? Nobody takes responsibilities.

“We need to be like rugby. When there is a decision by VAR I need to know what the referee is saying to them, people need to know what is going on.”

“So in my opinion, Mr. Infantino and FIFA, everybody agreed that VAR is not going well,” he added. “That’s the reality, there’s a lot of complaints.”

Ricardo Quaresma struck a brilliant opening goal with a trademark curling effort using the outside of his right foot on the stroke of half-time.

Ronaldo had the chance to double the lead with a penalty five minutes into the second half after he was upended by Saeid Ezatolahi, but his effort was save by Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand.

– Ronaldo frustrated –

Portugal defender Cedric was then penalised in stoppage time for a handball, and Karim Ansarifard converted from the spot to give Iran a lifeline.

Mehdi Taremi nearly snatched a dramatic winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran were eliminated in agonising fashion.

Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure after failing to add to his four-goal tally at the Mordovia Arena, suffering the same penalty misfortune as Lionel Messi earlier in the competition.

“I understand, it’s normal. The best players in the world face that when there isn’t an opportunity to really make it happen,” said Portugal boss Fernando Santos.

“That hurts a lot more to them than to other players. They always want to win. They want to be the best and refuse to fail, and when they fail they get very upset.”

Santos said he thought the referee made the right decision in terms of the Ronaldo flashpoint.

“No I wasn’t concerned (about a red card), it seemed liked a normal thing in the match. The referee did what he had to do.

“He went to the VAR twice or three times, he considered two penalties and one yellow card. I’d have to watch it again to talk about it, but I think the VAR did its job.”

A late equaliser from Iago Aspas that earned Spain a 2-2 draw with Morocco pushed the European champions down into second place.

“To us what is important is to be in the last 16 and we want to carry on in this tournament,” Santos said.

“Uruguay have high quality and top-notch players. They’re excellent but Portugal are too and we’re going to try and find a way to win.”