Argentina returns to the Lusail Stadium to avenge their opening day defeat in facing Mexico for the second group stage game in the 2022 World Cup.
La Albiceleste suffered a huge upset against Saudi Arabia while El Tri played out a goalless stalemate against Poland.
ARG vs MEX Match Details
Date: Saturday, 26 November 2022/ Sunday, 27 November 2022
Time: 22:00 (AST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Lusail Stadium, Lusail
ARG vs MEX Match Preview
Carrying a sense of optimism from their 36-match unbeaten record, the 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history hit Argentina hard. All the momentum earned after their last loss three years ago got shattered in the opening group stage game. It did not look to be the case when Lionel Messi converted a 10th-minute penalty becoming the first Argentine to score in four World Cups. However, La Albiceleste failed to double their lead often caught offside by the well-maintained highline of the opposition and having trouble penetrating their water lock defense. After the second half, Saudi Arabia came out more strongly showing their attacking nugget. Striker Saleh Alshehri and Salem Al Dawsari scored in an eventual comeback win with Lionel Scaloni’s team unable to get past a remarkable Mohammed Al Owais in goal. This was the match Argentina never had imagined ending in defeat and now it has happened, solution is to show their true capability in the rest of the group matches. In the second group game against Mexico, Argentina will certainly favor returning to their best carrying an unbeaten streak in the last 10 meetings. But they had a decent record against the Falcons too so history will matter little in a competition of high stakes. La Albiceleste have also lost four of the last six World Cup matches as many as they had in the previous 25. They will not be happy to extend that. Anything other than a win will make life very difficult for Lionel Scaloni and his men ahead of the final group-stage game against Poland.
Also Read | Argentina’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina - World Cup Records and Stats
Guillermo Ochoa saved the penalty from Robert Lewandowski to help secure a 0-0 draw for Mexico in the opening match against Poland. The Club America goalkeeper has been immense on the World Cup stage with his fabulous art of shot-stopping. His next venture will be to keep his clean sheet intact against the likes of Lionel Messi and co in the second group game to stand a chance for qualification. Mexico were the better side against the Pols and could have won the game if they had taken their chances. It was the same again from EL Tri surviving due to their goalkeeper’s excellency rather than yielding anything themselves. Tata Martino has to think of a way to get the team scoring with neither number nines, Martin nor Raul Jimenez looking to be at the forefront to perform their task. Not including Javier Hernandez, the top scorer for Mexico in the World Cup, in the squad is probably biting them. There is no time for ifs and buts as Argentina despite being rocked by their shock defeat in the first match will unleash everything to salvage their World Cup campaign. It makes them hazardous to face at this moment. El Tri have been eliminated at the last 16 stages in each of their last seven attempts but reaching there will be the first priority. If Mexico can pile more misery on Lionel Scaloni’s men, they could make it possible otherwise their hopes will dangle on the final group game against Saudi Arabia and on results elsewhere.
Also Read | Mexico’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and Mexico’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
ARG vs MEX Predicted Lineups
ARG: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Christian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna; De Paul, Leonardo Paredes, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Lionel Messi; Lautaro Martinez
MEX: Guillermo Ochoa; Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Hector Moreno, Jesus Gallardo; Edson Alvarez, Hector Herrera, Luis Chavez; Hirving Lozano, Henry Martin, Alexis Vega
ARG vs MEX Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ochoa (8.5)
DEF: Romero (8.5), Moreno (8.5), Li Martinez (8), Gallardo (8)
MID: Di Maria (9), Paredes (7.5), E Alvarez (7.5), De Paul (8)
FW: Lozano (9), Messi (9)
Vice-captain: Angel Di Maria
Captain: Lionel Messi
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