Argentina meets Mexico, round of sixteen, today, June 24 in Leipzig, at 9:00 PM, German time (3:00 PM EST)
Take your pick Javier Saviola- Hernan Crespo as the striker duo up front. If that does not satisfy you, then you go to the bench and bring on Carlos Tevez- Lionel Messi. If that does not work then you can go to Maxi Rodrigues, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Juan Pablo Sorin. Each one of them is capable of scoring. Argentina is formidable. The 6-0 dismantling of Serbia and Montenegro was delightful as well as clinical.
Mexico will most likely declare striker,Jared Borgetti fit and he should start, providing some relief for Omar Bravo, Mexico’s hardworking forward. Zinha will replace the suspended Luis Perez.
Mexico’s plate will be full keeping the potent Argentinian attack at bay. Oswaldo Sanchez and Rafael Marquez will have to be extra -vigilant. They will try and disrupt the one touch play of the Argentinians. That means collapsing on a player very quickly and trying to squeeze Argentina’s real estate. The Mexicans will look to score goals through counter-attacks.
Many degrees of connection:
Guillermo Franco, Mexico’s Argentinian born midfielder will go up against his former country and fellow Villareal mates, Juan Pablo Sorin and Juan Riquelme. Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Rafael Marquez (Mexico) could face each other in this match.
Ricardo LaVolpe, Mexico’s coach is Argentinian too and he’ll try and outfox Luis Pekerman, Argentina’s coach. Diego Maradona should be there in the stands to liven up the match.
Mexico- Argentina head to heads:
Argentina have played Mexico on 23 previous occasions and they have won eight, drawn 11 and lost four. They won 6-3 in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. This is their only meeting in the competition finals. The last match was bitterly contested with Argentina beating Mexico in the Confederation Cup semi-final, 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
Argentina: Abbondanzieri, Ayala, Heinze, Scaloni, Sorin, Cambiasso, Riquelme, Rodriguez, Mascherano, Saviola, Crespo.
Subs: Franco, Coloccini, Tevez, Palacio, Milito, Aimar, Cufre, Messi, Cruz, Burdisso, Gonzalez, Ustari.
Mexico: Sanchez, Salcido, Marquez, Guardado, Osorio, Castro, Mendez, Pardo, Borgetti, Morales, Fonseca.
Subs: Corona, Suarez, Torrado, Zinha, Franco, Ochoa, Pineda, Bravo, Garcia, Arellano, Rodriguez.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).