Argentina accept gifts to make light of Mexico

Argentina's Carlos Tevez scores a goal past Mexico's goalkeeper Oscar Perez during a 2010 World Cup second round soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 27, 2010. [Agencies]

Mexico's players appeal for Argentina's goal to be disallowed during a 2010 World Cup second round soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 27, 2010. [Agencies]

JOHANNESBURG - Give Argentina a two-goal head start and the result will not be in much doubt, as Mexico discovered when a dreadful decision and a defensive mistake smoothed a World Cup quarter-final path for the twice winners.

Surging with the self-confidence Diego Maradona seems able to transmit directly from the touchline, Argentina found life absurdly easy for much of a 3-1 win at Soccer City on Sunday.

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Still a goal for Lionel Messi would not come -- he has now gone four games playing well without one -- but a brilliant strike from Carlos Tevez, his second of the match, and one from Gonzalo Higuain showed the days of their dependence on the impish striker are long gone.

The only real worry for Maradona, if his natural self-belief allows him any such reflection, will be that his preference for Nicolas Otamendi at right back and the midfield omission of Juan Sebastian Veron led to nervous moments in defence.

Not for the first time at this World Cup they looked vulnerable to a team prepared to get players in behind their fullbacks and Germany need not feel overawed heading into their quarter-final.

To stand any chance, of course, they cannot afford to give Argentina the sort of gifts they enjoyed in Johannesburg.