The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group C Argentina v Mexico clash which features an Argentina side looking to get their tournament back on track after their shock first game loss.
With so many games and so little time, our Group C Argentina v Mexico Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group C Argentina v Mexico Match Centre.
KICKOFF – SATURDAY 25TH NOV – 22:00 (QATAR) 19:00 (UK) 06:00 (AEDT)
Group C Argentina v Mexico Match Review
Argentina have made up for their opening day defeat by beating Mexico 2-0 in a game with a lot physicality and saw the long deadlock broken by Lionel Messi.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
4’ Min With not much action to report on in the first minute, the minutes that matter start with an injury, or at least a player down on the ground. It is Gonzalo Montiel and his injury was attained from a loose arm to the face chasing Alexis Vega. There looked as much in it as most other Kilnsmann Trophy nominations from our previous match reports.
8’ Min Now some actual football to talk about, Mexico’s first corner of the match, while this amounts to nothing not long after Mexico get a free kick in a relatively dangerous position after Hirving Lozano is bulldozed in a tackle by Gonzalo Montiel. The player who was so badly hurt a few minutes ago. Amazing. As for the free kick, it was a good cross and the ball just got away from a pair of Mexico players who were on hand to sneak a goal.
17’ Min We’d like to talk about football in our updates, but there’s seems to be more bullshits than football being played at the moment. The latest involves Mexico’s captain Andrés Guardado and Lautaro Martínez coming together. Both were chasing the ball, and the Argentine clears it first, then Guardado shoulder charges into the chest of Martínez, but for some strange reason only the Mexican player goes to the ground, and clutching his face, which we never saw affected in any replay. Hopefully these two teams play some football soon.
20’ Min A chance of sorts for Mexico with a free kick close-ish to the penalty box. Again, no result, and again a chance created from a free kick after an ordinary tackle. Some theme to this game.
22’ Min Yellow Card for Néstor Araujo after a pretty ordinary on Marcos Acuña.
24’ Min Argentina threatens to make an attack, the first one we can remember for the game, and it breaks down due to an offside. Jeez, you’d think after the loss to Saudi Arabia that Argentina would stay on side more.
27’ Min A half chance for Messi sees him head over the bar by a fair distance after a Martinez cross. Of course, play is delayed with another played on the ground, this one caused somehow when Martinez crossed the ball. The way this game is going, there’s not enough football being played to allow Argentina to get that vital win after their shock first up loss.
32’ Min Corner for Argentina which although doesn’t lead to a score, it leads to a free kick in a dangerous position and within Messi striking distance, who is standing over the ball. It’s a great cross from Messi and is actually heading in towards goal from a very tight angle, but is saved well from Mexico’s keeper Guillermo Ochoa.
36’ Min Just a thought with half time approaching. With all the players down in this half, it could see 20 minutes of added time.
39’ Min Half chance for Lautaro Martinez with a free header at a corner. He puts it wide and high sadly.
43’ Min A half chance for Mexico awaits with a free kick in the middle of the field about 10 metres from the edge of the penalty box. The free kick is as useful for scoring as the free was dangerous despite the theatrics.
45’ Min +5 One final chance of the first half for Argentina as they win a corner. No score from the corner and thank the lord that half is over. Terible “football”
HALF TIME – ARGENTINA 0 MEXICO 0
53’ Min A graphic on the screen shows 20 fouls committed up to that point. So throw in the injury rolls, and standing over free kicks discussing where to kick, you can see how much/little actual football has been played.
63’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR ARGENTINA
Finally a break through for Argentina and it is the great man himself to do the scoring. Somehow Messi finds a path to goal as his shot from the edge of the box has a few defenders in the way and a decent keeper to stop it, but he nails the angle and produces the moment that Argentina needed so badly.
ARGENTINA 1 MEXICO 0
74’ Min The game has become an arm wrestle as Mexico try and break through the Argentine defence but fail. Argentina to their credit haven’ totally shut up the shop yet. Goal difference in this group may end up being important. So it’s in theirs and our best interest if they keep playing football and try for goals.
83’ Min Desperation starting to kick in for Mexico who need that goal, but Argentina aren’t making life easy for them. And you can feel the frustration growing. A corner not long after typing this brings no joy for Mexico.
86’ Min GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR ARGENTINA
Argentina win a corner and go short with a couple of quick passes, the second of which falls to Enzo Fernández who nails a shot from well outside the penalty area and on a tight angle. That’s the game done and dusted you’d think.
ARGENTINA 2 MEXICO 0
Final Score
ARGENTINA 2
Lionel Messi 63′ Enzo Fernández 86′
MEXICO 0
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
Lionel Messi
Group C Argentina v Mexico Match Stats
Group C Argentina v Mexico Starting Teams
ARGENTINA (4-4-2)
23 Martínez
4 Montie
19 Otamendi
25 Martínez
8 Acuña
11 Di María
7 De Paul
18 Rodríguez
20 Mac Allister
10 Messi
22 Martínez
MEXICO (5-3-2)
13 Ochoa
26 Álvarez
2 Araújo
3 Montes
15 Moreno
23 Gallardo
24 Chávez
16 Herrera
18 Guardado
22 Lozano
10 Vega
Group C Argentina v Mexico Match Preview
Why should you care?
Let’s see how well Argentina can pull their pants up, after having them removed by Saudi Arabia. And before the thought/fun police in Qatar come to get us in our secret Gurgler HQ we are speaking metaphorically.
Fair to say without going over the top with fireworks, fire dancers, and flame eating specialists, that Saudi Arabia beating Argentina was one of the shocks of all World Cups. Especially given Argentina took the lead.
But the problem for Argentina is that this game was probably their toughest on paper before the tournament started so the pressure is on. A draw here will make it very difficult to qualify for the knockout stages.
Talking of pressure, perhaps it is the added pressure of Messi’s potential last World Cup that is throwing them off. That or their inability to remain onside. To the Saudis credit that’s what they were playing for with a high defensive line. So if Mexico do the same hopefully for Messi fans around the world, and people who loaded up on Argentina for their fantasy team, Argentina have learned.
Yes, there is a another side in this match – Mexico. Their first up 0-0 draw was a little underwhelming but there were still pockets of good play to like. We especially like Hirving Lozano and he didn’t disappoint.
Who should you care about?
Messi. It’s over to you big guy.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Argentina have won all seven games at World Cups against CONCACAF nations. And average four goals scored per game.
Argentina (W7 D3) are on a ten game unbeaten streak against Mexico. Mexico’s last win came in the 2004 Copa America competition.
Who will win?
Argentina 3 Mexico 1
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
