Full time: Argentina – Mexico 2-0
peep peep! Argentina is still in the World Cup. It was an ugly victory secured by two beautiful goals from Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández in the second half. It was a desperate game, and Kylian Mbappe won’t be losing any sleep, but they did what was necessary and that was by far the most important thing.
Mexico are not yet out of contention, but their toothless performance suggests they will struggle to maintain their record of qualifying for the last 16 at every World Cup since 1994.
Updated at 21.10 GMT
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“Why are CONCACAF teams so bad?” asks Kurt Perlerberg.
I’m not sure they are – Canada was fantastic against Belgium and the US has played pretty well in both games. Mexico and Costa Rica, not so much.
We are only watching replays of the two goals. Both were so stylish, not just the finishes, but the touch (or in Fernandez’s case, the shimmy) to set up.
And now something completely different
“How is Mexico so bad?” says Adam Hirst. “Even for football’s biggest underdogs, they’ve nailed it here.”
I thought Lozano and Vega looked pretty bright up front, but for much of the game the lineup was pretty much 8-0-2. They also missed Edson Alvarez in midfield. But yes, this is the worst Mexican team I’ve ever seen in a World Cup, even though I wasn’t there in 1954.
This is how group C looks
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Poland 4pts, GD+2
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Argentina 3pts, GD+1
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Saudi Arabia 3pts, GD-1
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Mexico 1pt, GD-2
The last matches are Poland-Argentina and Saudi Arabia-Mexico.
Poland need the draw, although it could happen with a loss
Argentina need a win to be safe, although it could go with a draw
Saudi Arabia need a win to be safe, although a draw could do the trick
Mexico needs a win to have any chance
Full time: Argentina – Mexico 2-0
peep peep! Argentina is still in the World Cup. It was an ugly victory secured by two beautiful goals from Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández in the second half. It was a desperate game, and Kylian Mbappe won’t be losing any sleep, but they did what was necessary and that was by far the most important thing.
Mexico are not yet out of contention, but their toothless performance suggests they will struggle to maintain their record of qualifying for the last 16 at every World Cup since 1994.
Updated at 21.10 GMT
90+4 min Messi is lucky not to be cautioned for a bad tackle on Moreno.
90+2 min. Six minutes of added time. They could play for six millennia and Mexico wouldn’t score.
90+1 min If Argentina beat Poland on Wednesday, they will go through, probably as group winners, which would mean avoiding France in the last 16. If he draws, he will be at the mercy of the result in the other game. .
90 min Alvarado is booked for taking his frustration out on Otamendi’s face.
Argentina took a short corner from the left and fed the ball to Fernández on the left side of the box. He beat Gutierrez with a hip move, then shaped an extravagant curling shot across goal. He beat the leaping Ochoa and set up in the far corner.
Updated at 21.10 GMT
GOAL! Argentina – Mexico 2-0 (Fernández 87)
Enzo Fernández seals the win, and gives Argentina a potentially crucial goal difference increase, with another lovely goal!
Enzo Fernández’s goal beats Ochoa. Photograph: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images
Updated at 21.02 GMT
86 min Argentina make a promising break, but De Paul’s strong touch allows Gallardo to cut him off.
85 min Corner with Mexico on the left. Chávez curls it in at the near post, Romero heads it. Mexico has been very poor.
In the 82nd minute, Chávez launched a free-kick from the right by an Argentine defender who crossed head-first into the area and which Moreno crossed again. He is too close to Emi Martínez, who claims comfortably.
81 min Despite having plenty of the ball now, Mexico are looking pretty toothless.
79 min Not that Argentina care or need to worry, but this has been an awful game.
Updated at 20.40 GMT
77 min Palacios leaves Alvarez on the left. He charges into the area and cuts the ball to Messi, who can’t finish in front of the defender. Moments later, Messi’s cross is sent off by Ochoa.
Updated at 20.38 GMT
74 min Mexico have done a bit better since the goal, although they don’t really look like they’re scoring much. It has been their problem since qualification for the World Cup began in September 2021.
73 min Mexico bring on Hirving Lozano, which is a bit of a surprise. Roberto Alvarado enters in his place.
72 min Goal difference may also be a factor, so a second Argentina goal could be deceptively significant.
72 min If it stays that way, Argentina could qualify with a draw against Poland on Wednesday, depending on the result in Saudi Arabia against Mexico. It’s all quite complex. Mexico won’t go out if they don’t lose either.
70 min Acuña’s cross reaches Molina, who climbs in from the edge of the area. It was half a chance.
69 min: Double substitution for Argentina Cristian Romero, who was supposed to be injured, and Ezequiel Palacios replace Alexis Mac Allister and Angel Di Maria. This could mean a switch to a back five.
68 min Antuna does a one-two and puts in a low cross that bounces behind. No matter, Antuna was offside.
67 min Hector Herrera is cautioned for a cynical foul.
66 min Double substitution in Mexico: Raúl Jiménez and Uriel Antuna replace Alexis Vega and Kevin Álvarez. This means a switch to a back four.
65 min The finish was unerringly accurate but the touch to set it up was even better. Any lighter and I wouldn’t have been able to get enough momentum in the shot; heavier and would have been drowned out by the advancing defenders.
Updated at 20.29 GMT
It was a goal out of nowhere. Di Maria cut inside from the right and shaped a neat pass to Messi, who was inexplicably unmarked 25 yards from goal. His first touch was perfect, setting himself up for the shot, and he fired a low shot into the bottom corner. It’s a beautiful goal.
Lionel Messi raises his fist after finally scoring. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 20:32 GMT
GOAL! Argentina – Mexico 1-0 (Yes 64)
Lionel Messi puts Argentina in front!
Lionel Messi strikes first. Photo: Molly Darlington/Reuters
Updated at 20:30 GMT
64 min “I don’t think any World Cup match in the modern era has been played in dirty rain and mud, but that would improve it immeasurably,” says Charles Antaki. “Dense fog too.”
63 min: Double substitution for Argentina Julian Alvarez and Nahuel Molina replace Lautaro Martinez and Gonzalo Montiel.
62 min A draw is a better result for Mexico, and this is reflected in the balance of play. Now Mexico plays almost exclusively on the counterattack.
60 min A free-kick from Vega is well headed by Otamendi, racing towards his own goal. The second half was a little better, although we only had one shot on goal in the whole game.
59 min. Messi nails a dangerous pass towards Lautaro Martínez that Araujo has read well. There is no eye on the Mexican needle.
57 min: Argentine substitution Enzo Fernández replaces Guido Rodríguez.
57 min This is a decent spell for Argentina, probably the best of the game.
56 min Di Maria goes around the back on the right and throws the ball dangerously. Mac Allister, arriving late in the box, is about to shoot when Chavez makes a vital interception.
Updated at 20:18 GMT
54 min There’s a bit more intensity from Argentina in this half, but not as much as you’d expect in the circumstances. It looks like a piece of equipment that has been taken care of halfway rather than a hair dryer.
53 min “Boxing is a notoriously difficult sport to excel at, but two British fighters have achieved it this century,” says Max Williams. “Carl Froch defeated George Groves at Wembley Stadium (in front of 80,000, supposedly) and Lennox Lewis resisted the temptation of a rematch with Vitali Klitschko after beating the Ukrainian challenger (and 2022 war hero) via a slightly fortuitous TKO. Both retired as world champions, undisputed in Lewis’s case.”
Oh yes, Froch is a perfect example – the last stroke of his career was also his best.
52 min It’s a free kick by Messi, cut well over the crossbar.
51 min The free kick is slightly to the right of center, maybe 22 meters from goal. In other words, the perfect position for a left-handed genius.
50 min A sudden and exciting burst from Messi, who escapes to the edge of the D and is cleared by Gutiérrez. It is reserved.
Updated at 20.12 GMT
48 min The referee ignores a stab by Lautaro Martínez and the break for Mexico. Lozano cuts inside and takes a long shot that is blocked.
46 min Peep Peep! Argentina start the second half. If this continues, they will need to beat Poland by at least two goals to be sure of reaching the last 16. And Mexico would need to beat Saudi Arabia by any score to progress.
Updated at 20.08 GMT
Your nominations for people who did come out on top Rocky Marciano, Steffi Graf, Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Didier Deschamps, Garry Kasparov, Basil Fawlty.
“The first half in a nutshell,” writes Richard Byrne.
“I have a rough and ready way of judging which team is on top by adding up the attempts on and off goal and corners, then subtracting the fouls,” says Richard Hirst. “I think it’s the first time that I know of that both teams have a negative total.”
“I bought a new 65-inch TV to watch this joke,” says Paul. “This game has put my wife and cat to sleep.”
FIFA has been encouraged to schedule a World Cup during Black Friday.
“Mexico playing five at the back when Argentina have the ball and two defensive midfielders in front of that, giving Messi no space to run and forcing him deeper,” says Rick McGahey. “Martino knows his opponent.”
No eye on the Mexican needle, that’s for sure. I am…