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With the eyes of the footballing world firmly mounted on Argentina this weekend, La Albiceleste claimed what was a vital 2-0 victory towards Mexico on Saturday night time.
Opening their World Cup journey with an notorious 2-1 loss by the hands of Saudi Arabia earlier within the week, Lionel Scaloni’s males knew that one other defeat right here would see their Center Jap marketing campaign come to a shocking finish on the group levels.
Nonetheless, though Argentina may need largely struggled to seek out prime gear, it was their attacking icon who dragged the South American giants over the end line in Qatar.
Producing a elegant pushed strike simply after the hour mark and now bagging back-to-back World Cup strikes, Lionel Messi will undoubtedly steal all the headlines after a well-known second-half efficiency on Saturday night time.
With Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez finally wrapping up all three factors with a beautiful whipped effort within the dying minutes, we’ve taken a take a look at the principle speaking factors.
Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man
Struggling that beautiful 2-1 loss towards Saudi Arabia in midweek and coming underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny again dwelling, Argentina had little to cheer about after opening their World Cup journey with a nightmare show.
Nonetheless, with Messi bagging what finally turned out to be a comfort strike earlier within the week, it was no secret that Scaloni’s attacking celebrity must play a vital position in Argentina’s cost for glory this yr.
Anticipated to be the 35-year-old’s remaining look at a World Cup finals, it was the PSG icon that dragged his nation over the end line on Saturday night time after producing a second of brilliance simply after the hour mark.
Producing a trademark left-footed end from the sting of the field and breaking Mexico’s hearts in Lusial, neutrals throughout the globe are hoping that Messi can put the cherry on prime of his legendary profession subsequent month.
Now bagging back-to-back World Cup strikes and determined to lastly get his fingers on a maiden world crown this yr, Saturday’s second of brilliance deserves its place in Messi’s well-known spotlight reel.
Scaloni nonetheless has inquiries to reply
Whereas Argentina may need finally dragged themselves over the end line on Saturday night time following two moments of particular person genius, La Albiceleste nonetheless failed to seek out prime gear with a lot fluidity right here.
Coming underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny earlier within the week after getting hit with that notorious 2-1 loss towards Saudi Arabia, Scaloni’s aspect additionally watched their exceptional 36-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt finish.
Nonetheless, opening this yr’s World Cup journey tipped as one of many main contenders – alongside fellow South American giants Brazil – Argentina nonetheless have the texture of a squad who’re searching for some much-needed stability in Qatar.
Though Scaloni’s superstars may now know that they need to punch their knockout stage ticket and keep away from a significant banana pores and skin, the 44-year-old remains to be looking for his ideally suited beginning XI.
Making 5 adjustments from their 2-1 loss by the hands of Saudi Arabia, the likes of Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria have struggled to stake their declare.
Realizing that harder exams are ready down the road, they face one other big showdown after they meet Poland subsequent week.
Extra attacking struggles for Mexico
Whereas Mexico may need opened their Center Jap journey trying to lengthen on their exceptional report of reaching the knockout stage, Gerardo Martino’s males have did not make any sort of assertion in Group C.
Finally having to accept a toothless 0-0 stalemate towards Poland earlier within the week and fortunate to have seen Robert Lewandowski miss a vital penalty, the one-time Barcelona boss does discover some actual strain on his shoulders.
Now sat rock-bottom of the Group C desk and needing a minor miracle in the event that they’re to discover a path to the knockout stage, Mexico have additionally gained considerably of a status for his or her prolonged struggles within the remaining third.
Failing to make any actual clear-cut possibilities on Saturday night time and but to bag a single World Cup strike since opening their Qatar quest, it’s additionally value noting that Mexico have now drawn a clean in every of their earlier 4 World Cup appearances persevering with on from 2018.
With the likes of Hirving Lozano and Raul Jiminez failing to supply Martino’s aspect any sort of medical edge, Mexico are determined to seek out some sort of increase.
Match Report:
Argentina: Martinez, Montiel, Otamendi, L. Martinez, Acuna, Di Maria, De Paul, Rodriguez, Mac Allister, Messi, L. Martinez
Subs: Alvarez, Romero, Palacios, Fernendez, Molina
Mexico: Ochoa, Alvarez, Araujo, Montes, Moreno, Gallardo, Chavez, Herrera, Guardado, Vega, Lozano
Subs: Antuna, Alvarado, Gutierrez, Jiminez
Targets: Messi (64′), Fernandez (87′)
Yellow Playing cards: Argentina: Montiel – Mexico: Herrera, Araujo, Gutierrez
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Daniele Orsato
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