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Mexico boss Miguel Herrera has claimed his team can WIN this World Cup if they just believe in themselves.

The experienced coach was confident ahead of his side’s opener against Cameroon, as well as confirming his starting XI which has no place for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.

“I believe that we have a team that could be world champions,” said Herrera. “We just have to convince them of that.”

And with Mexico boasting one of the largest band of travelling fans in Brazil, the 46-year-old has called on his players to give everything in return for the fantastic support they’ve been receiving.

“There are some Mexico fans that sell their houses, cars to be at the World Cup. We’re going to give absolutely everything.

“We’re ready to go out to try and win the game, it is a really important match, key to our hopes of getting out of the group. We know that nothing is easy but we are going to work hard and do what we can.”

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The omission of Hernandez, third on Mexico’s all-time goalscoring list, is the latest blow in an unhappy season for him.

He looks set to leave United in search of more game-time and misses out to Tottenham flop Giovani dos Santos, who will instead support Mexico-based Oribe Peralta in a 5-3-1-1 formation, while in goal Guillermo Ochoa is preferred to Jose Corona.

Herrera said: “The competition is very tough. The team that started against Portugal made me very happy on the offensive. There was good chemistry between Dos Santos and Oribe.”

Starting in defence is former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez, becoming the first man to captain his country at four World Cups.

(Image: Clive Mason)

And the veteran urged his teammates to enjoy the experience, as well as using it to show the world what they can do.

“It’s important to enjoy this opportunity to the maximum, it’s a great shop window for us and for many of them it is an opportunity to keep improving their level.

“I tell my teammates to always give everything, to give more than one hundred per cent, and that they try to help each other take the team through.”

* CAMEROON striker Samuel Eto’o will go into Brazil 2014 fighting to save his reputation at home.

Affection for its favourite footballing son has turned sharply after being accused of “treason”, having lead strike action by their World Cup squad at the weekend.

(Image: Getty)

A strike by the World Cup-bound squad over money meant their expensively-chartered airline took off for Brazil almost 24 hours late as the players attempted to squeeze more appearance money out of their federation.

But what has really rankled with the fans was their refusal to receive a symbolic flag from prime minister Philemon Yang at the end of their last warm-up international against Moldova in Yaounde last Saturday.

Their German coach Volker Finke accepted it on their behalf.

Mexico v Cameroon (5pm UK time): Probable teams

Mexico Ochoa; Aguilar, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Layun; Vazquez, Guardado, Herrrera; Dos Santos; Peralta.

Cameroon Itandje; Nkoulou, Nyom, Bedimo, Chedjou; Song, Eyong, Aboubakar, Makoun, Moukandjo; Eto’o.