Lionel Messi’s superb long-range goal helped revive Argentina’s World Cup hopes as they secured a 2-0 win over Mexico at Lusail Stadium.
Argentina entered form knowing defeat would mean elimination after their surprise 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia and worked until Messi intervened in the 65th minute.
The 35-year-old, who was playing in what is expected to be his last World Cup, hit a pass from Angel Di Maria from outside the box and fired an accurate shot into the back corner to break the dead end in an erratic and moody encounter.
Messi, then a supplier to Argentina, secured the game with 3 minutes to go, his pass locating the replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who cut inside and completed a sumptuous finish past Guillermo Ochoa.
Victory sometimes seemed unlikely in a match interrupted by constant fouls and poor quality, but it brought Argentina into the current position in Group C, one point Poland, who face in their last match as they try to clinch the title. sixteen.
“Today starts the World Cup for Argentina,” Messi said after the game. “I say the same to others, keep believing. Today we did what we had to do.
“We had no choice. We had to win to count on ourselves.
“The first half we didn’t play like we did and the moment we calmed down we started playing the ball more and after the goal we became who we are. “
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had turned things around after the loss to Saudi Arabia, making five adjustments to his team, adding Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.
But there was no sign of improvement in a disastrous first half, with Messi unable to influence proceedings and Lautaro Martinez cutting a remote figure in front of him as flat, disjointed Argentina picked up where they left off in Tuesday’s game.
Mexico looked more threatening in the first half but, like Argentina, struggled to produce moments of genuine quality, with a free kick from Alexis Vega, comfortably saved by Emi Martinez, shot on target from either side before the break.
More or less the same thing happened after the break despite the crackling atmosphere inside the field, with a whimsical free-kick from Messi summing up his night as he struggled to unleash.
That all changed, however, when he nevertheless found himself in a pocket of the area about 25 meters from the goal, he took a touch to control Di Maria’s pass before firing an unstoppable shot to the last angle.
The goal sparked amusing celebrations among Argentine players and fans and there was another wave of relief when substitute Fernandez ran over a pass from Messi after a corner and sent a tremendous shot down the left side of the box.
Mexico showed little response, scoring only 4 shots in the match, leaving Argentina to celebrate a victory that helps keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
After avoiding a defeat to Mexico that would have ended their participation in the World Cup, Argentina once again has their fate in Group C in their hands. Victory over Poland on Wednesday night will only ensure their progress, but it will also put them in the top position. To advance as winners of the organization, to deny them the most sensible place in this scenario, Saudi Arabia would only want to beat Mexico, but also win by a wider margin than Argentina.
Poland will advance if they defeat Argentina (a win would ensure their progression as champions of the organization), while a draw for Saudi Arabia against Mexico and a defeat for Poland would only see the Saudis qualify if Poland loses considerably.
As for Mexico, it will have to beat Saudi Arabia to aspire to qualify. A win by Mexico and a loss by Argentina to Poland would be enough for Mexico to finish second, while a win by Mexico and a draw between Argentina and Poland would see the two South American groups finish tied on issues and in second place. The state was decided through difference of purpose.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni: “The feeling of betting something more than a football match, I don’t share that opinion.
“I think the feeling of joy is there. Maybe you think I’m crazy. We’ll enjoy it in the locker room tonight, but that’s it, we start again. “
“It’s the same when we win the Copa America, happiness only lasts 10 minutes. We have to place that emotional balance when we win and when we lose. “
Mexican coach Gerardo Martino: “When Messi recovers the ball, in 30 seconds it can be very dangerous. “
Asked if he felt Mexico had given Messi too much area, Martino replied: “I don’t see it that way. I saw that area when he scored, we made a mistake.
“I don’t think the game has discovered much area in the last third, but I perceive that Argentina’s goals can replace the attitude of what happened in the 90 minutes.
“We held our heads up to face a massive opponent in Argentina and I’m sure we’ll play the same way and break our backs in the next game. “
Sky Sports expert Roy Keane told ITV: “As those wonderful players get older, it’s about moments and that end product. We recently talked about Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo, the brilliant finish, but other than that, he’s very average.
“But it produced this moment. Now he has two goals in two games and since other people say he’s almost over, you can’t rule out the players. “
“In the middle moment, I hunted in Argentina thinking ‘what kind of characters do you have, because you’re against it’, but they turned it around. They figured out how to win the game with two quality pieces.
“Thanks to the coach, he made adjustments before the game and, more importantly, made adjustments in the game. They did homework and will feel much better tonight. “
Sky Sports expert Gary Neville acknowledged that Argentina’s move to five at the back was key to the victory.
“In the first half, I didn’t see a trace for Argentina in terms of overall competition,” he told ITV.
“But I liked it when they went to five in the back, they did it at the beginning of the moment dropping one of the midfielders, but then they bought Romero.
“Everyone seemed much more competitive and the 3 in midfield had a lot more energy.
“So, with Alvarez and Messi at the helm as two, you can build from a forged foundation and have players up front that they can deliver in a matter of moments, that’s how Argentina is going to win this tournament if they’re going to do it. “it. “
The time comes, the man comes.
Lionel Messi had endured a deeply frustrating night at Lusail Stadium, his struggles mirroring those of the Argentina national team as a whole, but his sensational first goal reminded him that he can still replace a game in an instant.
Messi had floated on the outside edge of a poor quality encounter the last hour, a whimsical free-kick early in the moment splits his only goal attempt. From doors the box, he took it.
The goal, directed to the back corner, the 93 for his country and the 8th in the World Cup, tying it with Diego Maradona. It could also be one of his vital maxims.
Argentina had been terrible until then, but their confidence gradually returned after that and when the time was right, it was no surprise to see Messi involved, with the 35-year-old looking after Enzo Fernandez, whose surprising finish made the attack safe.
Argentine painting is done. A difficult final organizational adjustment awaits him against Poland. They will want to show a huge improvement in this functionality if they want to navigate it effectively and chart a path to the final stages of the tournament.
But in Messi they know they have an asset, a player who, even at 35, is still capable of raising them when they want it most. With the Saudi debacle and Messi chasing his destiny at the World Cup, Argentina can dream again. .