Argentina v Mexico: match preview

Round of 16

Argentina v Mexico
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Sunday June 27 2010, 7.30 BST
TV: BBC1

A lovely-looking last 16 encounter with two of the great adverts for the rise of Latin American football here trying to pass each other into oblivion.

Argentina, along with Holland the only team with a 100% record here, will start favourites, but Mexico, even coming off their poorest performance with the defeat by Uruguay, are determined to avenge their quarter-final loss to Los Albicelestes in Germany.

Walter Samuel is set to miss out for Argentina through injury while Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez is tipped to replace Juan Sebastian Veron, while Arsenal’s injured Carlos Vela has shown enough improvement to come into contention again.

Key clash

Stopping Lionel Messi, who has not scored at this World Cup yet but has done everything but, has to be the number one priority of any opponents of Argentina and Mexico could have no better man to organise the shackling.

The assured Rafael Marquez, Messi’s Barcelona teammate, may find himself either the last line of defence or trying to stop the number 10 at source in a holding midfield role.


Talking tactics

After all the adventure of his group matches, could it be time for Maradona to look for more security in defence, with the more fragile Jonas Gutierrez perhaps giving way to the accomplished Nicolas Otamendi? Argentina, surging forward, simply cannot afford to be caught napping by the pace of Giovanni dos Santos and/or Javier Hernandez

Touchline duel

The novice Maradona has great respect for Mexico’s hero Javier Aguirre, whose reputation back home is soaring even more. “I respect Aguirre deeply.

This gentleman has had a great career. He’s a great coach,” Maradona enthused.

What they say

Javier Aguirre: “This could be a nice opportunity to take revenge for what happened four years ago"

Diego Maradona: “With the likes of Marquez and Dos Santos, Mexico has quite a number of players who have us worried”

Teams

Argentina (4-3-1-2): 22 Romero; 4 Burdisso, 2 Demichelis, 13 Samuel, 6 Heinze; 8 Veron, 14 Mascherano, 7 Di Maria; 10 Messi; 11 Tevez, 9 Higuain
Substitutes: 15 Otamendi, 3 Rodriguez, 5 Bolatti, 16 Aguero, 19 Milito, 1 Pozo (G), 21 Andujar (G), 12 Garce, 20 Maxi, 23 Pastore, 18 Palermo, 17 Gutierrez
Mexico (4-3-3, r-l): 1 Perez; 5 Osorio, 2 Rodriguez, 4 Marquez, 3 Salcido, 16 Juarez, 6 Torrado, 7 Barrera; 16 Guardado, 9 Franco, 17 Giovani
Substitutes: 13 Ochoa (G), 23 Michel (G), 12 Aguilar, 15 Moreno, 19 Magallon, 20 Torres, 11 Vela, 8 Castro, 10 Blanco, 14 Hernandez, 21 Bautista, 22 Medina
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Previous meetings

Played: 25 Argentina 9 wins, Draws 12, Mexico 4 wins

1930: (Montevideo, WC): Argentina 6 Mexico 3
1956: (Mexico Df, Friendly): Mexico 0 Argentina 0
1960: (San Jose, Friendly): Mexico 0 Argentina 2
1960: (San Jose, Friendly): Mexico 2 Argentina 3
1962: (Buenos Aries, Friendly): Argentina 1 Mexico 0
1967: (Mexico City, Friendly): Mexico 2 Argentina 1
1973: (Mexico Df, Friendly): Mexico 2 Argentina 0
1984: (Monterray, Friendly): Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1984: (Buenos Aries, Friendly): Argentina 1 Mexico 1
1985: (Los Angeles, Friendly): Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1985: (Puebla, , Friendly): Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1990: (Los Angeles, Friendly): Mexico 2 Argentina 0
1991: (Buenos Aries, Friendly): Argentina 0 Mexico 0
1993: (Guayaquil, South American Champs) Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1993: (Guayaquil, South American Champs) Argentina 2 Mexico 1
1999: (Los Angeles, Friendly): Argentina 0 Mexico 0
1999: (Chicago, Friendly): Mexico 2 Argentina 2
2000: (Los Angeles, Friendly): Mexico 0 Argentina 2
2003: (Los Angeles, Friendly): Mexico 0 Argentina 1
2004: (Chiclayo, South American Champs) Argentina 0 Mexico 1
2005: (Los Angeles, Friendly): Mexico 1 Argentina 1
2005: (Hanover, Confederations Cup): Mexico 1 Argentina 1 (Argentina win 5-6 pens)
2006: (Leipzig, WC): Argentina 1 Mexico 1 aet
2007: (Puerto Ordaz, South American Champs): Mexico 0 Argentina 3
2008: (San Diego, Friendly): Mexico 1 Argentina 4

Fact: Argentina have failed to score with three of their last five penalties at World Cup finals.

Prediction: The Mexican have impressed but their record in this fixture is poor: Argentina win.