Johannesburg, June 26 (DPA) Argentina will be out to confirm their good World Cup football form Sunday when they face Mexico in a repeat of their Round of 16 encounter four years ago.
In Germany 2006, Argentina won 2-1, but it remains to be seen whether they can do the same in Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium.
Argentina coach Diego Maradona said he would field his ‘best team,’ featuring superstar Lionel Messi along with Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez up-front. And the coach warned his goal in the tournament is to play ‘all seven matches.’
Mexico, in turn, face a historic double-task: to reach the quarter-finals in a World Cup – which they have only so far managed when playing at home, in 1970 and 1986, – and to claim revenge for the defeat in Leipzig.
‘It’s Argentina, so what?’ said Mexico captain Rafael Marquez. ‘They can be beaten. That’s how we have to approach it in order to become better.’
Marquez does not want a shadow of inferiority to cross his teammates, given Argentina’s impressive form and World Cup history.
In fact, Maradona is apparently contemplating changes that show great respect for Mexico, like using Maxi Rodriguez instead of veteran Juan Sebastian Veron in midfield and playing Nicolas Otamendi as a right-back, to give the team more access on the wings.
Argentina were one of only two teams to reach the second round with a maximum nine points, and Maradona’s men have gained in confidence as they move on. They scored seven goals, and they are the tournament’s best team when it comes to shots on goal.
Besides, Mexico have only beaten Argentina four times and have lost 11 games against the ‘albiceleste.’
But there is no margin for error in the knock-out phase, and Maradona warned that respect for their rivals would not mean giving them chances.
‘We’re going to respect them, but Mexico will have to know that we will also have to respect ourselves on the pitch,’ he said. ‘We know that we face a difficult game, but with the team we have, with the players we have, we can go on to the next round.’
The match could be a tough fight, so Maradona opted to strengthen his defence and midfield to control Mexico’s play. But he will not be able to count on centre-back Walter Samuel, who is recovering from injury and will most likely be replaced by Nicolas Burdisso.
‘They’re going to stay back and seek counterattacks,’ Rodriguez said of his expectations for Mexico.
Four years ago, he scored the goal that sealed Argentina’s win.
Mexico have so far been up-and-down in South Africa. They were audacious and fast in the draw against the hosts and the win over France, but looked scared in their defeat against Uruguay.
Always ready to attack with many up front, coach Javier Aguirre’s team has not always shown the best attitude on the pitch, while its midfield generates few ideas.
Aguirre will reportedly keep the Argentine-born striker Guillermo Franco in the line-up despite his missed chances, while Carlos Vela, who is just back from injury, starts the game on the bench.
Mexican wonderboy Javier Hernandez and veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco will also probably have to await their turn.
