What: FIFA 2010 World Cup
Who: Argentina vs Mexico (Last 16)
When: Sunday 27th June, 2010, at 19:30 UK Time
Where: Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

Maradona’s First Test

After a tricky qualification campaign Diego Maradona has found a winning formula in the World Cup thus far. However, Argentina’s opponents in Group B didn’t have the quality that their second round opponents Mexico possess. The North Americans will be La Albiceleste’s first real test of the competition.

An opening 1-0 win over Nigeria set them up for the 4-1 demolition against South Korea, in which they showed some wonderful attacking flair. Maradona then had the luxury of resting key players in the final group game against a stuffy Greece side, so his troops should be fresh going into the second round.

Having arguably played the best football of the tournament so far, and with Lionel Messi out to prove he is the best footballer in the world, all the pressure is on the Argentines to produce the goods. With fans sensing a real opportunity to win the competition all eyes will be on Maradona and his team on Sunday night.

El Tri Out for Revenge

Having been beaten by Argentina in extra time at this stage in the last World Cup Javier Aguirre’s side will be out for revenge, and after some encouraging displays in their group games Mexico will be confident of seeing off Maradona’s men.

El Tri managed to draw 1-1 with the hosts South Africa in what was a daunting opening game, before going on to dismantle a fragile French side 2-0. Although losing to Uruguay in the last group game, the Mexicans have shown enough to suggest they can cause an upset against many people’s favourites. Good in possession, the only thing the Mexicans seem to lack is that cutting edge up front.

The Group A runners-up will have to be clinical when the few chances they get come their way, but with the frailties that the Argentines have shown in defence Mexico must believe they can get goals.


Recent form

Argentina:
Argentina 1-0 Nigeria (12/06; World Cup – Group B)
Argentina 4-1 South Korea (17/06; World Cup – Group B)
Argentina 1-0 Greece (22/06; World Cup – Group B)

Mexico:
South Africa 1-1 Mexico (11/06; World Cup – Group A)
Mexico 2-0 France (17/06; World Cup – Group A)
Mexico 0-1 Uruguay (22/06; World Cup – Group A)


Players to watch

Argentina – Lionel Messi: The Barcelona forward is, amazingly, yet to score in this summer’s competition, but has shown glimpses of why he is arguably the best player in the world. Despite being heavily marked in the group stages the winger has still managed to bring the World Cup alive with his fantastic dribbling ability. With Mexico unlikely to be as defence-minded as Argentina’s previous opponents, it could open up more space for the little wizard. This could be the game where Messi opens his scoring account.

Mexico – Javier Hernandez: Set to join Manchester United after the World Cup, Hernandez showed in the group stages against the French just why Sir Alex Ferguson signed the sharp striker from Mexican side Chivas. With the country’s group game against the French deadlocked at 0-0, the youngster perfectly timed his run to be one on one with the keeper before coolly rounding Lloris and tapping the ball into the empty net. This goal showcased all Hernadez’s talents, pace, composure and deadly finishing ability. The untested Argentina defence will have to be wary.


Match prediction

Both sides have played some exciting attacking football in the group stages and with the amount of forward thinking players in each squad this suggests an open game. Argentina’s weakness is their defence and if the Mexicans are to come out on top in this match they will have to attack. Teams can ill afford to sit back and soak up the pressure, Greece showed this in the group stages against Argentina where their defensive tactics did not work and Otto Rehhagel’s men were eventually picked off.

However, any team boasting names such as Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria and Lionel Messi will always be hard to outscore.

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