Stephen O'Donnell braced for Mexican test

Stephen O'Donnell had an international baptism of fire in Peru but expects it to be even tougher in Mexico.

There were 40,000 noisy Peruvians packed inside Lima's Estadio Nacional to give their team a rousing send-off to the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Scotland.

It was quite an occasion in which to make his Scotland debut but O'Donnell believes this weekend's trip to the 87,000-capacity Azteca Stadium will be even more testing for the Scots, who will again provide opposition for a team on its the way to Russia.

''I certainly think it will be very difficult,'' the 26-year-old Kilmarnock right-back told Press Association Sport.

''That atmosphere in Lima was very good, very party-like, and we were hoping to spoil it.

I certainly imagine Mexico will be the same if not even more so through the sheer volume of fans there.

The national anthem at the start of the Peru game was maybe the proudest moment of the evening.

But hearing 40,000 of them singing their national anthem..... there was a wee mascot just next to me and he was belting it out.

I just hope they go and do well in the World Cup. They are a very good side and I wish them all the best.''

O'Donnell admits his first taste of international football at senior level left him with something of a bitter-sweet taste.

The former Partick Thistle and Luton player said: ''It was a good experience but I was disappointed that we didn't get anything from the game, albeit we maybe didn't create many chances to really say we deserved it.

I enjoyed being part of the atmosphere, part of the camp but maybe because of the defeat it will be something I will reflect on in a couple of years' time and say I did enjoy it.

But I was bit disappointed we weren't able to give the fans who came a long, long way something to cheer about.

I didn't expect this at the start of the season but you are representing your country, you want to do your best and we didn't manage to get the win or a draw.

I would have been far prouder if we had managed to get a win and I was on the bench.

Hopefully I will get a game against Mexico and see what we can do there.''