 |
|
Officials and coach Diego Maradona ( C ) attempt to break up a scuffle by substitutes from Mexico and Argentina during half time of their 2010 World Cup second round soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 27, 2010. [Agencies] |
 |
|
Argentina's Carlos Tevez (C) celebrates his goal during the 2010 World Cup second round soccer match against Mexico at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 27, 2010. [Agencies] |
Mexico unsettled
Mexico had looked comfortable from the start, pinging the ball around and going close when Carlos Salcido smashed a long-range shot against the bar, only for Tevez to score the first goal from an offside position which unsettled them.
The Mexican players argued with the referee and his assistant until they were blue in the face, all to no avail.
If they had shown such concentration in defence they might have avoided conceding a second but Ricardo Osario made an inexplicable mistake to let Higuain in for the second.
Argentina had the game won with the third goal soon after the break but the ease with which Mexico striker Javier Hernandez got clear to score a fine consolation will have had Germany's speedy forwards taking notice.
The German defence, of course, will have to contend with an attack that was once again in devastating form, with Messi, goal or no goal, at the heart of almost everything they created for the 60 minutes or so they actually needed to exert themselves.
The story of Argentina at this World Cup has been that if Tevez does not get you, Higuain, the top scorer with four goals, surely will.
If Messi finally joins the scoring party, as he almost did in bringing a fingertip save from Oscar Perez at the end, it will take something extraordinary to stop them.
