Argentina-mexico clashes produce modern day World Cup classics
Argentina and Mexico, two of Latin America’s great footballing nations, have a long history of epic clashes at the World Cup. On Saturday, in the second round of Group C fixtures at Qatar 2022, La Albiceleste and El Tri will cross paths for the fourth time at a Mundial.
Of the previous three, two took place at recent tournaments (round of 16 ties in 2006 and 2010). This will be Lionel Messi’s third match against Mexico at football’s greatest tournament. Notably, on the previous two occasions, he failed to find the net.
Of the three clashes at World Cups, the Albiceleste have won them all.
1930: A GOAL IN THE CENTENARIO
In the very first edition of the tournament in Uruguay, Argentina and Mexico crossed paths on July 19, 1930, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
Mexico had already been eliminated from their group and Argentina had fun with a broken toy. The South Americans won 6-3, taking a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes. Guillermo Stábile scored a hat-trick.
Argentina went on to top their classification group and reached the final of the competition, eventually losing 4-2 to hosts Uruguay, who were crowned champions of the inaugural edition of the famous cup.
2006: SCALONI AND MESSI BOTH ON PITCH
The only match that Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s current coach, played for the national side at a World Cup took place in Leipzig, against Mexico in the
Round of 16 at Germany 2006. Messi was 19 years old that day and also played in the match, as a substitute, coming on in the 84th minute in place of Javier Saviola. He had a goal disallowed. Mexico started the match winning, with Rafa Márquez scoring in the sixth minute, but the Albiceleste equalised through striker Hernán Crespo just four minutes later. The tie remained level until the first half of extra time when Maxi Rodriguez scored a wonderful goal in the 98th minute to give his side the victory.
Interestingly enough, there was a duel of Argentine tacticians on the bench that day, with José Pekerman leading his country and Ricardo La Volpe leading the Aztecs. In the Qatar 2022 edition, there will be a similar set of circumstances, with Scaloni leading La Albiceleste and ex-national side coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino in the other dugout.
In 2006, Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals, where they were eventually knocked out on penalties by hosts Germany.
2010: HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF
At South Africa 2010, Argentina and Mexico met again in the Round of 16 in Johannesburg, with the former emerging with a 3-1 victory.
The star of the match was Carlos Tevez, with two goals. Gonzalo Higuaín also scored. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández pulled one back for the Mexicans in the 71st minute, but they couldn’t rouse themselves further.
Argentina were coached that day by Diego Maradona and there are some survivors from the match in today’s squad. Twelve years on, Messi, Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi are all part of the Scaloneta.
COPA AMÉRICA AND CONFEDERATIONS CUP
Argentina and Mexico have crossed paths at other tournaments too, not only at the World Cup. El Tri have played in 10 Copa Amêricas, for example.
In the side’s debut as a guest nation in 1993, Mexico played their South American rivals twice, drawing 1-1 in the group stage and then losing 2-1 in the final in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with Gabriel Batistuta scoring twice.
At the 2004 edition of the tournament in Peru, Mexico beat Argentina 1-0 in Chiclayo to top their group. At Venezuela 2007, the sides met in the semi-finals, with Argentina winning 3-0.
The two American sides have also met in the Confederations Cup, playing out a thrilling face-off in the 2005 semi-finals in Hanover, Germany, which was decided on penalties. La Albiceleste won 6-5 after a 1-1 draw in normal time.