Argentina defeated Mexico 2-0 on Saturday night thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez in the second half.
The World Cup final will take place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, but after Argentina’s shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in their opener, Lautaro Martinez described it as the first of “two finals.”
It was a desperately tight game marked by niggling fouls, spiky challenges, and few opportunities—exactly like a final.
Argentina was hindered by the pressure of the situation and, more importantly, by Mexico’s spirited start, which led to the Copa America champions making pointless punts forward.
Before the game, Lionel Scaloni promised his team: “We will give everything, every last bead of sweat, to turn this around.” Martinez continued, saying, “We will break our backs for Argentina.” However, the first hour was excruciatingly dull because Argentina seemed to worry more about the possibility of losing than about needing to win.
Messi had been effectively restrained by Mexico’s horde of persistent midfielders, which for the majority of the game required Argentina’s captain to drop deep into his own half in search of a whisper of space. Most is the key word here.
Messi’s propensity to flicker into life was well known to Mexico manager Gerardo Martino, who had previously served as both his club and international manager. He foretold, “Sometimes even without being on top of your game for 90 minutes, everything can happen in five minutes.”
As Angel Di Maria fired the ball across the edge of the box, Hector Herrera was tripped up. With his second touch, Messi controlled a fiercely struck pass with one touch before swatting a low, fizzing attempt into the bottom corner, nestling it in the ratonera, or mouse nest as it is known in Argentina.
Argentina vs Mexico player ratings – World Cup
Argentina (4-4-2)
GK: Emi Martinez – 6/10
RB: Gonzalo Montiel – 5/10
CB: Nicolas Otamendi – 5/10
CB: Lisandro Martinez – 4/10
LB: Marcos Acuna – 3/10
RM: Angel Di Maria – 6/10
CM: Rodrigo De Paul – 3/10
CM: Guido Rodriguez – 5/10
LM: Alexis Mac Allister – 5/10
ST: Lionel Messi – 7/10
ST: Lautaro Martinez – 4/10
SUB: Enzo Fernandez (57′ for Rodriguez) – 7/10
SUB: Julian Alvarez (63′ for Martinez) – 5/10
SUB: Nahuel Molina (63′ for Montiel) – 5/10
SUB: Cristian Romero (70′ for Di Maria) – N/A
SUB: Exequiel Palacios (70′ for Mac Allister) – N/A
Manager: Lionel Scaloni – 4/10
Mexico (3-5-2)
GK: Guillermo Ochoa – 5/10
CB: Nestor Araujo – 6/10
CB: Cesar Montes – 7/10
CB: Hector Moreno – 6/10
RWB: Kevin Alvarez – 5/10
CM: Hector Herrera – 7/10
CM: Luis Chavez – 7/10
CM: Andres Guardado – N/A
LWB: Jesus Gallardo – 5/10
ST: Hirving Lozano – 5/10
ST: Alexis Vega – 6/10
SUB: Erick Gutierrez (42′ for Guardado) – 6/10
SUB: Raul Jimenez (66′ for Vega) – 5/10
SUB: Uriel Antuna (66′ for Alvarez) – 5/10
SUB: Robert Alvarado (73′ for Lozano) – N/A
Manager: Gerardo Martino – 5/10
Player of the Match – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
