'I believe that we can be very strong': Hector Herrera prepares for what might be his final World Cup

Héctor Miguel Herrera López grew up with the same dream as every Mexican boy — to play for the Mexico men's national team at a FIFA World Cup.

Herrera is one among millions able to convert that boyhood dream into reality. At Qatar 2022, the Houston Dynamo FC midfielder will suit up to represent his nation for a third consecutive tournament with the same excitement that he lived from his living room many World Cups before.

"I was the typical child who, when the anthem was on, would stand at home to sing the anthem, and I would stand next to the TV to sing with the players," Herrera said. "Now that I have the opportunity to represent Mexico, to sing the national anthem on the field, your skin gets goosebumps to see how many people follow us. It is a matter of pride and passion."

Playing to re-write history

El Tri (The Tricolor), as the Mexico team is nicknamed, is making its eighth consecutive World Cup participation and 17th overall, starting with Tuesday's match against Poland. The last time the team advanced past the Round of 16 was when the country last hosted in 1986 and the quarterfinals are the furthest stage reached by the Concacaf nation.

Herrera was born in 1990 and, for as long as he's been alive, Mexico has been unable to reach that elusive fifth game. He has experienced that twice as a player and, in potentially his last World Cup appearance, hopes the story finally changes this time around.

"In 2014 against the Netherlands, I had total confidence that we were going to go through, that we were going to make history, and it is those little details that, I have always said, of concentration, of being in everything, that changes a game." Herrera described. "In the 2018 World Cup against Brazil, when the logical thing was for Brazil to win, they won. I think that in the game, we went toe-to-toe with Brazil, and then there were individual players of theirs who are very good and who change the course of the game. I don't know how it's going to go this World Cup. Maybe we have another situation, another game, and the direction of the team changes."

Every elimination has been a different emotional rollercoaster for Mexico fans. Arjen Robben's No Era Penal (it wasn't a penalty) moment in 2014 was controversial while, four years later, the elimination against a talented Brazil side was accompanied by the feeling of "what could have been" if the team had won the group and avoided the five-time champions.

A tough group with two of the world's best

The road ahead is not easy for Mexico as the team is paired in Group C with Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia. To advance to the next round, Mexico has to finish better than two of those sides.

Considering Argentina is among the favorites, and Mexico's track record against the South Americans isn't favorable, the pressure is on the first match against Poland and FC Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski. Mexico has been counted out at World Cups before —  but with its opponents, and current struggle to find goals, will it be too hard a task?

"The team in the World Cup always wakes up, wakes up because there is great motivation," said Herrera. "There are teams like Argentina, Poland, [Saudi] Arabia, that motivate you to face those big games. Those games in which one as a player wants to play and wants to be and wants to be the protagonist. I think that the national team always against important teams brings out the character and Mexican pride that it carries."

If Mexico manages to finish top two in Group C, they'll face a nation from Group D. That could be anyone out of Australia, Denmark, Tunisia or defending champions France.

With the French expected to win their group, and Mexico arguably rated to finish second if they advance, Mexico will want to win Group C against a Lionel Messi-led Argentina — and second place very well might mean a quinto partido against the reigning champs. 

Cautious approach after injury with Houston

Herrera has been nursing a right leg injury since his move to MLS. He arrived to a hero welcome only to miss a month of the season beginning in late August.

"The truth is that I have had a quite complicated recovery. I thought it wouldn't take long," Herrera said. "It had been a knock to the ankle and I thought it would go away quickly. Then I loaded the posterior and that delayed me a little more. I tried to go back a few times and I still felt a bit loaded on the rear and that made it difficult for me to return to play at all."

With the Houston Dynamo's hopes to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs dwindling, Herrera took a more focused approach to getting healthy for the World Cup. After the MLS season concluded, he continued his rehab with the national team and played in two friendlies prior to Mexico's arrival in Qatar, assisting Alexis Vega's goal against Sweden.

All healed up, Herrera is ready to make the most of what is likely his last World Cup trip. He's never been one to shy from big expectations and this edition will be no different in his role as one of the team's most experienced players.

"El Tri in the World Cup wakes up and always plays a good role," said Herrera. "It is difficult, but I believe that it is possible to dream and be united as a country, as a team, I believe that we can be very strong and we can achieve it."