2010 FIFA World Cup: Preview: Argentina Vs. Mexico

In what promises to be one of the most open and exciting matches of the Round of 16, Group B winner Argentina will take on Group A runner-up Mexico Sunday in Soccer City. 

The headliners will be some of the brightest young attacking talents of the group stages, including Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Giovanni Dos Santos, and Javier "El Chicarito" Hernandes, but both teams have some steal in their ranks, with Rafa Marquez and Gerrardo Torrado on the side of Mexico and Javier Mascherano and Walter Samuel for Argentina. 

Should either team fall behind, two old hats in Cuahtemoc Blanco and Martin Palermo, the two oldest goalscorers in the competition, could be called upon to settle the matter later on. 

History : 

At the World Cup, Argentina and Mexico have met twice, the first coming back at the first-ever World Cup in 1930, when a hat-trick from Golden Boot winner Guillermo Stabile inspired Argentina to a 6-3 rout over the Mexicans in Montevideo. 

More recently, the sides met at Germany 2006 during the Round of 16, in what was arguably the game of the round, featuring end-to-end action and a breathtaking finish. 

Rafa Marquez had opened the scoring for El Tri, but Hernan Crespo pulled Argentina level from Juan Roman Riquelme's corner during an astounding opening 10-minutes. 

Neither side could grab another goal, as the game went to extra time, where Maxi Rodriguez scored one of the goals of the tournament as he controlled Juan Pablo Sorin's cross with his chest and smashed a left-footed volley past Osvaldo Sanchez.

Although the two sides are part of different confederations, Mexico takes part in many CONMEBOL competitions at both the club and international level, so the players will know each other well. 

During the 2007 Copa America, Argentina toppled Mexico 3-0 in Venezuela in the semifinal stage. That day, Gabriel Heinze opened the scoring before Lionel Messi scored a wonderful chip over Sanchez and Juan Roman Riquelme converted a late penalty. 

At the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany, the two sides also met in the semifinals, with Argentina advancing 6-5 on penalties after both Rafeal Marquez and Javier Saviola had been given red cards. 

Mexico's last competitive triumph came at the 2004 Copa America in Peru, when an early free kick from Ramon Morales was the only goal. Mexico went on to reach the quarterfinals, while Argentina made the final, with both sides falling to Brazil. 

Argentina also toppled Mexico 4-1 in San Diego in 2008, with Messi, Sergio "El Kun" Aguero, Maxi, and Nicolas Burdisso all finding the back of the net. 

Team News : 

Argentina : 

Argentina manager Diego Maradona looks set to make a number of changes to the side that toppled Greece 2-0 in the final group match when many starters were rested. 

The tournament's top scorer, Gonzalo Higuain, and Manchester City star Carlos Tevezwill return to the first team, while Lionel Messi will obviously retain his position as the team's enganche. 

In the midfield, captain Javier Mascherano is back after being benched for fear of accumulating another yellow card against Greece, but veteran Juan Sebastian Veron is likely to miss out in favor of Maxi Rodriguez, the hero from four years ago. 

On defense, Velez Sarsfield youngster Nicolas Otamendi looks to have won a place at right back, even though Jonas Gutierrez has completed his one-match suspension. 

Naturally a winger, Maradona experimented with Jonas in defense against what he felt was weaker opposition in the group, but after two less than convincing outings, Jonas will likely be on the bench in favor of the more defensively-sound Otamendi. 

Inter Milan stalwart Walter Samuel looks to have recovered from thigh injury that forced him off the field after just 23 minutes in Argentina's 4-1 victory over South Korea.

Probable Line-Up: Sergio Romero; Otamendi, Samuel, Demichelis, Heinze,  Maxi, Mascherano, Di Maria, Messi, Tevez, and Higuain. 

Mexico : 

El Vasco Aguirre has made a number of controversial decisions during the World Cup, and should his team fail, the former Atletico Madrid boss man will most likely fall on his own sword. 

Goalkeeper Oscar "El Conejo" Perez is an accomplished keeper, but, at 37, it was surprising when he was given the number one shirt ahead of Memo Ochoa. 

El Conejo  will maintain his position in goal, while Ricardo Osorio, Franciso Rodriguez, Hector Moreno, and Carlos Salcido will make up the defense.

The midfield is pretty straightforward with Rafa Marquez playing right in front of the center backs, a position in which he has thrived at this World Cup.

Not only brilliant in recovering the ball and breaking up attacks, Marquez has been a brilliant distributor, and has provided a number of glorious through balls, none better than the ball that put El Chicharito Hernandez  through on goal against France.  

Gerardo Torrado will retain his spot, while Efrain Juarez should return after serving a one-match suspension. 

Up front, the Mexican fans have been even more mystified by El Vasco's selections than his goalkeeping choice. 

Giovanni Dos Santos is untouchable on the left flank. On the right,  Andres Guardado of Deportivo La Caruna would be an obvious choice, but the 23 year old was surprisingly pulled at halftime of Mexico's loss to Uruguay, despite being El Tri's  most threatening player.

The decision to pull Guardado was even more baffling, considering the 37-year-old Blanco is nowhere near fit enough to play 90 minutes at the top level, and some would argue he isn't even fit enough to play half an hour. 

There is a sense that Aguirre and Guardado have had some sort of a run-in, and that Pablo Barrera, a more than capable back-up who won the penalty that led to Mexico's second goal against France, should slot in nicely. 

As the team's striker, Aguirre looks set to again go with Guille Franco, a naturalized Argentine who has been a target of much criticism in the Mexican press after three games in which he never truly threatened to score a goal. 

El Chicharito , a new signing for Manchester United, has given the world only glimpses of his true potential, and would be dying to do so on the biggest stage during the knock-out rounds, but it looks like Franco will be handed a start yet again. 

 

Key Men:

Argentina: Javier Mascherano

Diego Maradona's captain will be given the challenge of protecting the back four in what will be a very open match. 

As Angel Di Maria and Maxi Rodriguez will be given freedom to go forward and Messi has very few defensive responsibilities, extra pressure will be put on El Jefecito  to recover the ball quickly when Argentina loses possession. 

With Veron out of the line-up, Masche  must also play a huge role in passing the ball from the back and distributing it to the more dangerous attackers. 

Argentina will certainly not look past Mexico, but the threat of suspension should he pick up another yellow card, could weigh on the former River Plate star's mind.

Mexico: Giovanni Dos Santos

The ex-Barcelona man has shaken off the disappointment of his brother being cut from the squad to play very well during the group stage, and all eyes will once again be on Giovanni against Argentina. 

Known for cutting in from the right side on to his favored left foot, Gio will come face to face with Gabriel Heinze, a capable but often reckless defender who could have easily seen red in Leipzig when these two sides met four years ago. 

Javer Aguirre will probably view Heinze as one of Argentina's biggest weaknesses, and despite his habit for accumulating bookings and giving away free kicks, Gio will have the pace and guile to expose the Marseilles man. 

Prediction: 

Argentina 3, Mexico 2

Neither team knows how to bunker down, as many sides have done during the World Cup, and should go out to look for the victory. 

Argentina has shown some weaknesses at the back, and quick attackers such as Giovanni and El Chicharito could cause Argentina's slower defenders some problems, but if appears that Aguirre will insist on Guille Franco, a big, lumbering target-man who could make the job easier for Samuel and Demichelis. 

Although both teams have the quality in the final third to score goals, Argentina should have enough to overcome any defensive errors the likes of Demichelis could commit. 

Expect a very fluid game with plenty of goals and quality oozing all over the pitch, and don't be surprised to see one or two defensive howlers from Argentina if El Chicharito is given a run-out.