”No one did. In truth, few contemplate this scenario from a Mexican perspective and their position is not so dramatic: neither the expectations nor the potential impact are as great and, fundamentally, a defeat would not end it yet. They do not stand on the edge like Argentina. The key now is to not look down and not look back either. “We had our mourning; now we’re thinking solely about Mexico, ” Martínez said. “We believe in our work, we trust in that, in the coaching staff and ourselves.
”There had already been a moment in the news conference when he said: “I don’t think our needs are so different. ” It was a timely reminder, if probably offered in vain. All the attention has inevitably turned on Argentina but Mexico, having drawn with Poland in their first game, probably need to win too. “I put it in a footballing context and I am not unaware of the importance of this game for Mexico and Argentina, that the future of both depends on what happens tomorrow. When we were drawn in the group with them, we never imagined a scenario like this.
We’re very calm. I am convinced that we’ll go out and represent Argentina like we should. ”Despite the defeat, there has been support – earned during these past four years where Scaloni’s side have gone from failure to Copa América winners, finalissima champions against Italy, unbeaten in 36 games and among the favourites coming into Qatar. There has been a shift in ideas, in environment. Messi said he had never enjoyed the national team like this. It has been three years since they lost, a strength built that must now withstand a new scenario. Doubts, though, are inevitable. The pressure is too.
Martino was also Messi’s manager at Barcelona, referring to him here as “the best player there has been … for the last 15 years at least”. Argentina could not find a way past Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais (right) as they chased an equaliser. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianThose layers ensured that Martino was asked here how he would feel about knocking out his country, about bringing Messi’s last World Cup to a premature, sad end. In asking, responsibility was loaded on to Martino, as if football would not forgive him, let alone his country. “And if you were me, what would you do? ” he replied. “I know where I was born, I can tell you which hospital I was born in, what my town is like, but I work for Mexico and I have to do everything I can for Mexico to win.
How Argentina vs Mexico could line up for World Cup clashArgentina go into their second World Cup match under unexpected pressure after their shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia. That brought an end to their 36-match unbeaten run and boss Lionel Scaloni must now decide whether to make significant changes as a result, or trust those players to bounce back immediately. Lisandro Martinez could come into defence, after replacing Cristian Romero on the hour mark in that defeat, while Julian Alvarez, who scored in the pre-tournament friendly against the UAE, is also pushing for a start. Leandro Paredes struggled against Saudi Arabia and could lose his place in the starting lineup to Enzo Fernandez should Scaloni shuffle his pack, while Lionel Messi will have to deliver an improved display for his country.
It looked as if Wales was headed towards another draw when the two teams were scoreless in the final moments of second-half stoppage time on Friday. Iran was +1700 to win the match live at FanDuel. Then, Rouzbeh Cheshmi scored the go-ahead goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time, and Ramin Rezaeian sealed the victory with a second goal just three minutes later. If nothing else so far, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected at FIFA World Cup 2022. Group D – 5 AM ET Tunisia vs. Australia With France and Denmark set to meet later in the day in a clash of the top two choices to win Group D, Tunisia gets a golden opportunity to improve its odds to advance with a win over Australia.
Significance is the word too: elimination is bad enough but there is more. This is a last chance at the tournament that is a last chance for Lionel Messi, made more profound by many of the men who have won the World Cup – Mario Kempes, Ricardo Villa, Jorge Burruchaga and Jorge Valdano among them – gathering in Doha on the second anniversary of Diego Maradona’s death. Mexico’s Argentinian coach, Tata Martino, described Maradona’s absence as a “permanent sadness”.
That was in 2002, when they finished below England and Sweden. Now they have lost to Saudi Arabia, falling a single step away from a joint-record 37th game unbeaten. Mexico, their opponents on Saturday, and Poland do not offer an easy way out. Little wonder so much of the focus was on Argentina’s emotional state, their capacity to get up again. “The sun will come up tomorrow, ” is the message Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has repeated to his players often over the past four years. An attempt to release the pressure, to see them through the traumas they had been through, the failure four years ago – losing in the last 16 – and inspired among other things by his experience at West Ham, it is a message that will be tested now, taking on ever greater significance.
“This afternoon our thoughts turned to him, ” he said. “We all know exactly where we were when it happened. ” It is not just that Martino is Argentinian. He was there when Scaloni, aged 16, reached the first team at Newell’s Old Boys. “I would be telling you a big lie if I said I remembered him, ” Martino said; Scaloni though does remember it. Martino, he says, is an idol for Newell’s fans such as him. Such as Messi’s father, Jorge, too.
“No, no, that’s not been talked about, ” the striker replied, and why would they? It’s the kind of thought probably best kept to yourself. Which doesn’t make it go away. It’s some statement – the worst catastrophe in their World Cup history – and it may sound absurd, as well as still being avoidable of course, but it may not be so far off. Just framing it like that said something of the fear; what’s at stake. Since they won their first title in 1978, Argentina have been knocked out of the group stage once in 11 World Cups.
“This group stands out for its unity and strength; this is the moment to show we are genuinely strong, ” Messi said after the Saudi Arabia game. “It has been a long time since we found ourselves in a situation like this, where we were obliged [to win]. ” Scaloni admitted there were some doubts about his team: the injury of Gio Lo Celso, a player he considered irreplaceable, meant they were already there.
For Mexico, Raul Jimenez’s involvement against Portugal was a big boost and he could well come in to lead the line against Argentina. The striker has not played for Wolves since August due to injury but came off the bench to play 19 minutes in the opening Group C match. His return to the side would be a welcome one, as Mexico struggled to find the clinical edge against Poland to go with their positive build-up play. Alexis Vega and Hirving Lozano were both impressive in that goalless draw and should start in wide areas again, while World Cup specialist Guillermo Ochoa is likely to have a busy 90 minutes in goal.
FanDuel has made France a -135 money line favourite, which is the same number they posted for Poland to beat Saudi Arabia. A Denmark upset win is currently priced at +390. France is -6000 to qualify for the knockout stage and -550 to win Group D at FanDuel right now. Group C –2 PM ET Argentina vs. Mexico The most highly anticipated match on the board for Saturday features the team that went off as the second choice to win FIFA World Cup 2022 looking to rebound from a stunning loss. Argentina is still the favourite to win Group C at +145 at FanDuel. Lionel Messi is smiling again 😃 pic. twitter.
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