Mexico has what it takes to upstage Brazil

There are not many teams in world football who boast an even moderately successful record against five-time World Cup winners Brazil but in recent years Mexico have proved they have what it takes to upstage the yellow-shirted powerhouse.

Whereas seven of the teams in the knockout stages of the tournament have failed to record a single victory over Brazil since 2000 – admittedly Spain, Denmark and Belgium have only played the South American giants once each – Mexico have won six of their 14 match-ups with Brazil in the same time period.

Only France, who have beaten Brazil three times in six meetings, have a better record of the remaining teams in the last 16.

More impressively, Mexico have won six of their last nine competitive fixtures against Brazil, losing just twice, and will go into their last 16 clash in Samara today full of confidence.