The Argentines, considered one of the favorites for the World Cup, came to Qatar after 36 matches unbeaten, but in the first match they lost in sensational fashion to Saudi Arabia 1:2. Another failure could mean that ‘the Albiceleste’ would say goodbye to the World Cup on Saturday, as in the second game Mexico drew 0-0 against Poland.
The media in Argentina point out that the coach of the Mexicans is Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino. On Saturday he will play against his compatriots, whom he managed in 2014-16. He replaced Alejandro Sabella after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Argentina only lost 1-0 to Germany in the final after extra time. Martino, who turned 60 shortly before the World Cup, quit his job after two years.
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The double world champions, after losing against Saudi Arabia, will play more effectively against Mexico, but with a slightly modified composition. Gomez is among the players likely to lose his place in the starting XI of the team led by coach Lionel Scaloni.
Despite being 34 years old, the Sevillian midfielder is one of seven players making their World Cup debut who have faced the Saudis from the first whistle.
“It may not be anything special, but we haven’t had so many World Cup debutants since 1998,” noted Pagina12.
Former Argentina international Sergio Aguero, who recently had to end his career due to heart problems, believes his younger colleagues failed to cope with the Saudis’ aggressive style of play and top-level defending .
– They caught us offside from time to time, we had no prescription for that – the former player rated m. Manchester City and Barcelona. – It is true that some of the burns were millimetric, but with the new technology they did not go unnoticed by the judges. Apart from that, however, the rivals coped with their tasks very well and implemented their plan with alacrity – he added.
The media encourage their players to follow the path of the Spaniards of 2010 – “La Roja” at the World Cup in South Africa lost at first to Switzerland 0-1, and then achieved the title.
Argentina-Mexico match on Saturday at 8 p.m. Polish time. Six hours earlier, the whites and reds will face Saudi Arabia.
MB, PAP
Go to Polsatsport.pl
