Argentina – Mexico live online: half-time, score, stats, updates 0-0 | Qatar

Joe’s pre-match preview

I am so excited for this game. Like those kids before they go into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. I want to jump in the river of chocolate and swirl around in it. 

Anyway, Argentina   :

Messi was quick to find a microphone after the Saudi Arabia loss to tell everyone “there are no excuses. Now, it’s the time to focus on strength and the unity of the group. It’s time for us to be more united than ever. It’s time to calm down.“

Scaloni will apparently go with Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María and Julián Álvarez up front,  ​​​​​​​​​​​and potentially Guido Rodríguez and Alexis Mac Allister behind them with De Paul, given Paredes is a doubt and Papu is out. Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martínez has also been tipped to start. 

If Argentina lose, it will be only the second time they have gone out in the Group Stage (10 points if you can remember the last time they did, and a bonus point if you remember the manager) and the first time they’ve gone out with a game to go in the Group Stage. 

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Mexico   :

Tata Martino will look to break the goalless curse that has been cast over Mexico for the last 3 games at the World Cup. If only they had a young, exciting forward players, right? Sorry, let’s not open that box of worms.

Their game against Poland will not feature on the highlight compilation at the end of the tournament, except perhaps for Memo Ochoa’s penalty save against Lewandowski. ​​​​​​​It is probable that the América goalkeeper has to have another stellar night against Argentina’s front three, and Edson Álvarez will need to have geo-tracking on his VR goggles locked onto Messi to follow the Argentine’s runs from deep.