Argentina 3-1 Mexico: Round of 16 report

At the 20 minute stage of this game, I wrote in my notes “Lovely ebb and flow to this game”. It truly was. Both teams had attacked well and shown a real appetite to go forward. Both teams were retaining possession well when they had it. It was developing into a game that had the potential to be a real see-saw affair.

Until that point, the Mexicans had seemed to have the better of things. Both sides had opportunities to score, but El Tri seemed to be coming closest of the two, Salcido & Guardado both having wonderful strikes on goal in the early going of the game. Indeed Salcido struck the ball from around 35-40 yards out and saw it rebound off the cross bar. It would have been a great way to open the scoring in this game and it would have been much deserved. The PSV full back has impressed throughout this tournament.

On the 25th minute, the controversy occurred. As with Frank Lampard’s “goal that never was” in the first game of the day, there will be furious debate over video replays and their place in football with regard to Tevez’s “goal that never should have been”. It was a great move by the Argentines leading up to the goal. Tevez having his shot saved and Messi following up expertly, but when Tevez turned it into the empty net, it should have been clear to the officials that the player had strayed offside.

Once they saw the replay on the big screen they realised their mistake, but by then the damage was done. FIFA’s response to this whole absolute farce is that replays should not have been shown on screen and that it was a mistake. Mr Blatter has spoken and we seemingly have to accept it.

From that point on, until about 5 minutes from the end of the first half, Mexico looked shell shocked. Indeed, it seemed to have a direct affect on one player in particular. Osorio was seemingly in disarray and it was his mistake with a woefully short  pass across the 18 yard box that allowed Higuain to burst through, round the keeper and provide a cool finish to make it 2-0. Mexico were down and out and looked like they’d need a miracle if they were to get out of the lull that the Tevez goal had placed them in. As noted, they did improve towards the end of the first half, but the damage was done right there, a competitive game ruined by a bizarre desire to keep the game being officiated in the same way now as it was in the 19th Century.

The second half started out much like the first and this writer held out hope that Mexico could find a way back into this game. However, it wasn’t long before Tevez had put the game beyond them. This time there was absolutely no debating his goal, it was sensational. After several probing attempts from the forward, he found his opening and  from just outside the D, his shot rifled into the top corner. It was unsaveable.

It wasn’t to be the end of Mexico though, and on the 70th minute, Javier Hernández ghosted through the Argentine defence to provide a quality left footed finish of his own high into the net. It was a quality finish from ‘Chicharito’ and it suggested Mexico still had some fight left. However, the comeback never materialised and Mexico once again go out in the Round of 16 at the hands of Argentina. The more things change the more they stay the same.

Controversy

It’s a shame that this game will have controversy surrounding the first goal. Argentina were the better side on the day and deservedly go through, but you have to wonder how much of that was down to how good Argentina were in attack and how much was down to how the first goal affected the Mexicans mentally. Mexico loked the better side before the goal and anybody who thinks the first goal wasn’t on Osorio’s mind when he hit the misplaced pass is kidding themselves.

Argentina were clearly favourites for this game, so many won’t think the controversy will have had much impact on the result. But the way the game was flowing up until that point seemed to suggest otherwise, and Mexico would not be wrong to go home with a feeling of anger about what transpired.

After this and the Germany-England game, one thing is clear. FIFA need to look at video technology again. However, I suspect the only thing that will come of it, will be that FIFA ban all replays from being shown on big screens inside the stadiums for the rest of this tournament.

Argentina, Mexico, World Cup 2010