After the defeat against Saudi Arabia, Argentina finds itself facing a first ‘match ball’ against: a defeat against Mexico in the 2nd round of group C, on Saturday in Lusail (16:00), would leave Lionel Messi eliminated in which is possibly his last World Cup.
The night is presented with dramatic overtones in this Latin American crossroads, since Mexico drew 0-0 against Poland and add 1 point, so a defeat would lead to a very delicate situation before the last date.
“Tranquility. It’s a very hard blow, a loss that hurts, but we have to keep trusting ourselves. This group is not going to let you downhe promised Messi to the fans just after the Saudis’ crash, at the same stadium in Lusail where he will play on Saturday.
Also read: Bump from Saudi Arabia! Argentina opens with defeat in Qatar-2022
“There is no other choice but to get up, there is no other reading, we are going to get upkeep head up and win both games”, he said for his part Lionel Scaloni, aware that Argentina continues to depend on itself and that beating Mexico and Poland is synonymous with being in the round of 16.
The Albiceleste saw their streak of 36 games in a row without losingfalling one short of equaling Roberto Mancini’s Italy, but the shadow of eventual elimination went on to earn more consideration than that record.
Know more: Tata Martino’s Mexico draws with Poland in his debut
historical precedents are hopeful for Argentinawhich crossed its paths with Mexico in three times in World Cups and always emerged victorious: 6-3 in the first edition, that of Uruguay-1930, and on two more recent occasions, in the round of 16 of Germany-2006 (2-1) and of South Africa-2010 (3-1).
In those last two Messi was on the field and in 2006 Scaloni even played, in what was his only game as a footballer in a World Cup.
– The ‘Tata’ against Messi –
But Mexico has the habit of make it through the group stages World Cup players, although he then systematically crashed in the round of 16, the round in which he said goodbye in his last seven participations.
It may interest you: Martino expects Messi to have “a bad afternoon”
The ‘anti-Messi’ formula of the Aztecs for Saturday’s game was drawn up by someone who knows the PSG star well, also from Rosario Gerardo Martinowho directed the 10 during a season in the Barcelona (2013-2014) and two in the Albiceleste (2014-2016).
“Stopping him happens more because he has a bad afternoon than because of what we can do. But you always have to prepare the game thinking that you will give the best version”, said the ‘Tata’ this Friday about Messi.
The picture of Mexico it was positive in the match against Poland, despite not winning, although there is one point that worries Martino and the fans, the lack of goals, which can be especially worrying given the solidity of the South Americans.
