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Argentina will need to bounce back quickly from one of their biggest World Cup defeats to Mexico at the weekend.
The Albiceleste are one of the favorites to win this year’s tournament in Qatar but were beaten 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening match.
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Messi scored a penalty against Saudi Arabia, but Argentina were eventually defeated
Lionel Messi gave his side the lead but goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten streak dramatically.
Lionel Scaloni’s men can ill afford another mistake in their quest for glory as they next face Mexico.
Tata Martino’s side, meanwhile, held Poland to a goalless draw in their opener and a loss to Argentina would put their long tradition of reaching the knockout stages under serious threat.
Argentina v Mexico: talkSPORT coverage
This World Cup Group C clash will take place on Saturday, November 26.
The match at the Lusail stadium will start at 7 p.m.
The action will be live on talkSPORT with Hugh Woozencroft as presenter.
Comments will then come from Nigel Adderley and former England defender Stuart Pearce.
To tune into talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 via the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen through the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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Argentina were on an incredible 36-game unbeaten streak
Argentina v Mexico: Squads and news
Lisandro Martinez is pushing to be included early on after Cristian Romero was flattered to cheat against Saudi Arabia.
Julian Alvarez is another who could be featured for Argentina, but both sides have no new injury problems to contend with.
Argentina
- Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Franco Armani
- Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Juan Foyth
- Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Guido Rodriguez, Alejandro Gomez, Enzo Fernandez, Exequiel Palacios
- Forwards: Angel di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi
Mexico
- Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera, Rodolfo Cota
- Defenders: Jorge Sanchez, Kevin Alvarez, Netor Araujo, Johan Vasquez, Hector Moreno, César Montes, Gerardo Arteaga, Jesus Gallardo
- Midfielders: Andres Guardado, Hector Herrera, Carlos Rodriguez, Erick Gutierrez, Luis Chavez, Edson Alvarez, Orbelin Pineda, Luis Romo
- Forwards: Alexis Vega, Hirving Lozano, Raul Jimenez, Roberto Alvarado, Uriel Antuna, Henry Martin, Rogelio Funes Mori
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Guillermo Ochoa once again proved Mexico’s hero
Argentina-Mexico: what was said?
Messi expressed his disappointment at the loss after the match but gave a rallying cry to the Argentinian fans ahead of the next game.
Speaking via Argentina’s official Twitter account, Messi said: “We knew that Arabia are a team with good players, moving the ball well and advancing the line a lot. We are working on it, but we speed up a bit.
“There are no excuses. We will be more united than ever. This group is strong and they have shown it. It’s a situation we haven’t had to go through for a long time.
“Now we have to show that this is a real group. It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this.
“Things happen for a reason. We have to prepare for what’s to come, we have to win or win and it’s up to us.”
Argentina v Mexico: Match stats
- Argentina are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Mexico in all competitions (W7 D3) since a 1-0 defeat in the 2004 Copa América.
- Mexico have lost all three of their FIFA World Cup matches against Argentina, losing 6-3 in 1930, 2-1 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2010. Only Austria (4 v Italy) and Nigeria (5 against Argentina) have faced an opponent more often in the competition while losing each time.
- Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia on MD1 ended a streak of 13 consecutive World Cup victories against non-European nations, since losing to Cameroon in 1990. They had never lost a match consecutive World Cups against non-European teams before.
- Argentina have lost four of their last six World Cup matches (W1 D1), as many as they lost in their previous 25 in the competition (W16 D5). They have lost their last two games in the tournament, losing only three in a row once before (between 1930 and 1958).
- Following their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on MD1, Argentina are looking to avoid losing their first two games at a single edition of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
- Mexico have failed to score in their last three World Cup matches; they have never drawn a draw in four consecutive games at the tournament, with this 59th game in the final.
- After drawing 0-0 against Poland in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup, Mexico could miss their first two games of a tournament edition for the first time since 1978, when he had lost all three of his group matches.
- Argentina’s players were ruled offside 10 times in their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia – their highest record (since 1966) in a single World Cup match, and already four more than have only been caught offside in the entire 2018 tournament (6) .
- Lionel Messi has scored in each of his last five appearances for Argentina in all competitions. He scored just once in six games in a row, between November 2011 and September 2012. His next goal will be his eighth at the World Cup (level with Diego Maradona and Guillermo Stabile), behind only Gabriel Batistuta ( 10) for Argentina in the competition.
- Against Poland, Guillermo Ochoa became the first Mexican goalkeeper to save a penalty in the World Cup (excluding penalties) since Opta has this data (from 1966). The last goalkeeper to save two penalties outside of penalties at a single World Cup was American Brad Friedel in 2002 (2).
Watch the World Cup with talkSPORT
At talkSPORT, we’re powered by fans, so come join us for the ultimate World Cup fan experience this winter – at the talkSPORT fan zone.
In a huge covered room under the arches of Waterloo in London, we will bring you live screenings of every World Cup match.
There will be Q&A with talkSPORT talent, you’ll be part of our live shows and plenty of food and drink will be on offer too.
Come and have the best World Cup fan experience in London – and enjoy a free pint – with tickets for all matches on sale HERE!
