Argentina v Mexico: Now or never with knockouts on the line
Well, this one is going to be interesting.
Argentina’s unbeaten streak is gone after 36 games, and with it their feeling of momentum. Coming into this tournament the South American’s were hot favourites alongside Brazil, but their shock opening loss to Saudi Arabia has piled enormous pressure on this fixture.
It is now simply a must win for Lionel Messi and company. There is no margin for error, and as Emi Martinez has said this week, this is their “first World Cup Final”.
A loss and their World Cup is over, a draw and their chances of progression would likely be out of their control.
Mexico, meanwhile, one half of a largely dreary and uninspiring goalless draw with Poland on Tuesday, failed to capitalise on Argentina’s slip and looked devoid of composure in front of goal. They’ve advanced from the pool stage at every World Cup since 1994, but this game could spell the end of that record.
Pool C is wide open. Saudi Arabia sit top, but whether they can replicate their performance in the first round against Poland remains to be seen. Mexico and Poland are struggling in front of goal, while Argentina need to prove that Tuesday was but an abnormal gaffe.
And with Poland v Saudia Arabia the earlier kick-off on Saturday, Argentina and Mexico will be only too aware of what’s at stake as the whistle goes.
History is on the side of Las Albicelestes in this fixture. The South Americans are undefeated against Mexico in their last 10 meetings stretching back to the 2004 Copa America. In the World Cup, they have won all three previous meetings, most recently a 3-1 victory in 2010.
And Argentina, while they were rocked in the third quarter by the Saudi’s high press, can take solace in that there was no lack of creativity on their behalf. No less than three goals were called back for offside on Tuesday.
Interestingly Argentina were caught offside 10 times in that game, twice as many in a single match by any nation (5) at the 2018 World Cup. They are sure to have gone away and corrected this issue, but Mexico’s high press, led by Hirving Lozano, could cause them similar issues.
Conversely, creativity was the epicentre of Mexico’s problems v Poland. Alexis Vega, for instance, was easily their most threatening player against Poland, and yet from five shots he didn’t record a single on target.
El Tri have now failed to score in their last three World Cup games, and this desperately needs to change on Saturday if they are to once again chase ‘el quinto partido’.
With Guillermo Ochoa seemingly having morphed back into the world’s best goalkeeper, there are less worries at the back. César Montes marshalled the Mexican defence well while Jesús Gallardo was relentless in attack and defence.
The small margins will be crucial on Saturday. Lautaro Martinez looked dangerous in that first half and Messi will be on the pitch, surely enough for Las Albicelestes to secure a much-needed victory.
The romanticists have convinced us this will be Messi’s year. As it stands it hangs in the balance, some Messi magic perhaps the spark needed to ignite their stuttering start.
