Three things: All Whites v Mexico

New Zealand and Mexico players clash during the Confederations Cup. Photo / Getty

Michael Burgess details three things of note from the All Whites' 2-1 defeat to Mexico this morning.

1. All Whites devastated

The overriding emotion of the New Zealand team after the 2-1 loss to Mexico was one of intense disappointment. Some players even struggled to find the words to sum up how they felt, as they faced the media just before midnight at Sochi stadium. It was a remarkable performance - it's hard to remember the last time an All Whites team created so many opportunities against major international opposition - but they have nothing to show for their efforts. The performance will go down as one of the most memorable in New Zealand's Confederations Cup history, alongside the historic 0-0 draw with Iraq in 2009. But it was oh-so-close to being easily the best ever.

2. The future is bright

Over the course of 90 minutes at the Fisht stadium in Sochi the All Whites showed their true potential, after not doing themselves justice in the first game against Russia. There was intensity, there was desire, there was physicality and most importantly there was no shortage of skill.

The New Zealand side played some lovely intricate football, and youngsters like Marco Rojas, Clayton Lewis and Ryan Thomas were at the centre of it all. Lewis showed vision and passing range beyond his years to pick out Chris Wood with superb passes, one of which set up the All Whites goal. In an advanced role Rojas found much more space than he had enjoyed against Russia, while Thomas continues to be a revelation. He has turned heads here and his list of potential suitors will be growing by the day.

3. Mexican tempers at boiling point

Mexican coach Juan Carlos Osorio described the All Whites as "gentleman" before the game but he had changed his tune after the match, bemoaning that "the game was really rough, nearly violent and I think that's unacceptable."

Mexican ire was raised midway through the first half, when the All Whites played on - and Chris Wood almost scored - despite one of their Mexican players being hunched over on the ground in the penalty area. But Carlos Salcedo had fallen after trying to foul Wood, and given the Mexican team's propensity for dramatics it was no surprise that New Zealand played on.

Tempers boiled over in injury time, after the All Whites objected to a Mexican player tugging Michael Boxall's shirt as he made a desperate surge into the opposition half. All 22 players came together with a pushing and shoving match, while the respective benches also had to be separated.

By Michael Burgess in Sochi

MYFC.CO - The digital platform to manage your football life.