Mexico has good qualities. The Argentina squad was not prepared to accept defeat, considering it arrived in Qatar with the longest unbeaten run in their history (36 games).
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YUNIADHI AGUNG AND IHSAN MAHAR FROM QATAR
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AP/JORGE SAENZ
Players warm up during Argentina official training on the eve of the group C World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, in Doha, Qatar, Friday (25/11/2022).
DOHA, KOMPAS — The defeat by Saudi Arabia is still difficult for Argentina to accept. They had played their best, but got punished by their opponent through two counter-attacks. Due to bad luck in the opening match, the La Albiceleste squad needed to immediately find consolation that can only be obtained by winning three points when they play against Mexico on Sunday at 2 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) (27/11/2022) at the Lusail Stadium, Lusail.
If they lose again, Argentina will reveal their own dark history in their participation in the World Cup. They have never not lost two opening games in a row.
In a press conference ahead of the match against Mexico on Friday (25/11) in Doha, Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez admitted that his team was sad and deeply disappointed after losing to Saudi Arabia. He said the match against Mexico would not be easy either.
Mexico has good qualities. The Argentina squad was not prepared to accept defeat, considering it arrived in Qatar with the longest unbeaten run in their history (36 games).
“The result against Mexico is a key to our next step in this tournament. We want to give supporters happiness, including remembering [Diego] Maradona in the best way," said Martinez, who mentioned the anniversary of Argentina’s football legend who died on 25 Nov. 2020.
AP PHOTO/JORGE SAENZ
Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, and Saudi Arabia's Saud Abdulhamid fight for the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday (22/11/2022)
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he distanced his team from the media one day after the match to maintain focus. He said senior players, especially the captain, Lionel Messi, had spoken to all the players to stay calm for the two remaining matches.
Argentina's last defeat came in the 2004 Copa America.
According to Opta Sorts records, Argentina had an absolute advantage in the last 10 matches against Mexico with a record of seven wins and three draws. Argentina's last defeat came in the 2004 Copa America.
In addition, Argentina had won three matches against Mexico at the World Cup stage. Mexico's defeat started with 3-6 in Uruguay 1930, then 1-2 in Germany 2006 and lost 1-3 in South Africa 2010.
To maintain their positive record, Scaloni revealed, Argentina would still play attacks. There are no changes in the schemes and tactics that Scaloni will implement.
AFP/ANDREJ ISAKOVIC
Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski (R) and Poland's defender Matthew Cash (L) take part in a training session at the Al Kharaititat SC Training Site in Doha on Monday (21/11/2022), on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Mexico and Poland.
Some of the names that Scaloni has retained in the starting line-up to face Mexico are Martinez, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi and Emiliano Martinez. Other names may be rotated.
However, Mexico has a “weapon” that can silence Argentina, namely coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino. Prior to the Scaloni era, Martino was one of Argentina's best coaches, having reached the Copa America final twice. Martino managed Argentina in 2014-2016.
Martino also knows Messi well because he was in charge of Barcelona in the 2013-2014 season.
"This is our biggest chance to end a bad record against Argentina. Saudi Arabia’s win [against Argentina] inspires us and we also have a coach who knows Argentina well, so we will carry out what the coach has planned," said Mexico wing Hirving Lozano.
