Mexico Defeats Croatia, 3-1, to Advance From Group A

A three-goal burst in the space of 10 minutes propelled Mexico to a 3-1 win over Croatia in Recife in the final Group A game. Mexico will now head into the Round of 16, where it will face the Netherlands in Fortaleza on Sunday.

Mexico finished second in Group A, behind Brazil, which beat Cameroon, 4-1, in Brasilia.

 One of the first things Miguel Herrera did when he became Mexico's fourth coach in a year was call Rafael Marquez and ask the 35-year-old defender known as "the boss" to return to the national side as captain.

On Monday, the world saw why.

Marquez's pivotal goal from a header in the 72nd minute ignited a scoring burst, and Mexico surged into the World Cup's knockout stage for a sixth straight time with a 3-1 triumph over Croatia.

"I did not hesitate one minute after my talk with him to appoint him captain," Herrera said of Marquez, now in hisfourth World Cup. "He's had many achievements in his career, personally, but he's also provided leadership to the team, that soundness, and that is why they call him the boss."

Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in a 10-minute span in the second half, dooming a talented Croatia side to elimination from the group stage.

The Croats had to win to advance and held the bulk of possession, but had trouble seriously threatening goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who kept out all efforts until an 87th-minute consolation goal from Ivan Perisic.

Mexico entered the game needing only a draw, but played aggressively and looked dangerous in attack even before breaking through. The result gave Mexico a second-place finish behind Brazil in Group A and set up a second-round meeting with Group B winner the Netherlands.