Mexico fear that a first goal at this World Cup from Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the second round today could dash their hopes of revenge for their defeat by the same opponents at the same stage four years ago.
Argentina, who won the 2006 meeting 2-1 after extra time, and Mexico meet at Soccer City outside Johannesburg looking for a place in the quarter-finals against England or Germany.
Barcelona club mates Messi and Rafael Marquez, who scored Mexico’s early opener in that match in Leipzig, come face to face again after the Argentine came on as a substitute near the end of normal time on his 19th birthday.
PHOTO: AFP
“We know it’s difficult to get the ball off him, he’s so quick and can change direction or pace at any time,” Marquez said on Friday. “[Argentina] have the best player in the world.”
Messi has never been on the losing side in three meetings with Mexico and scored a superb goal in the 3-0 victory at the 2007 Copa America and another in a 4-1 win in a friendly in San Diego, California, two years ago.
Yet to get off the mark in South Africa although he has created a string of chances and hit the woodwork twice, Messi’s sole World Cup goal to date was in the 6-0 rout of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.
Coach Diego Maradona, when comparing his impact in 1986 to Messi’s now, reeled off a list of Argentine scorers at the Mexico finals and said “I came to the team’s aid when they needed me,” suggesting Messi will do the same.
Argentina’s attack have been scintillating and with Mexico also expected to retain a three-man attack, it should be as good an encounter as that four years ago when Hernan Crespo equalized and Maxi Rodriguez volleyed an extra-time winner voted goal of the tournament.
“Defensively, [Argentina] are not the best, they have a great attack, but their weakness is on the flanks. We must plan the game properly to play our best,” Marquez told reporters.
Jonas Gutierrez, likely to return on the right of Argentina’s defense after serving a suspension, said he was comfortable whether he had Juan Sebastian Veron or Rodriguez playing in front of him.
Taiwan last night defeated Cuba 2-0 in their World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 Group B game at the Taipei Dome and finished the group second. At the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium, South Korea yesterday defeated Australia 5-2, while Japan last night won 11-3 against the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome to advance to the Super Round. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champions and Group B winners Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the
OFFENSE SHINES: First baseman Pan Chie-kai hit a solo homer in the fifth inning as all 10 batters Taiwan used contributed at least one hit toward their team total of 14 One day after their first shutout loss at the WBSC Premier12, Taiwan yesterday bounced back with a commanding 8-2 victory over the US, keeping their hopes for a spot in tomorrow’s final alive. The win in the Super Round marked Taiwan’s first triumph over the US at a top-tier international baseball tournament since 2003. Their previous win over the US was at the 2003 Baseball World Cup, with only one win in the previous 10 matchups since 1999. Yesterday’s game was tightly contested through the first six innings, with the margin never exceeding two runs. However, the tide turned in the top of
Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome last night to advance to the Super Round of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champion and Group B winner Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the off. After taking a walk to first base, Taiwan’s Chen Chieh- hsien (陳傑憲) then stole second before Tseng Song-en (曾頌恩) drew a walk to first in the top of the first inning. Chen then
TWO-NIL LOSS: Taiwan’s best chance to score came at the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but Venezuela’s Liarvis Breto got out of the jam Taiwan yesterday suffered a shutout 2-0 loss to Venezuela in the opening game of the WBSC Premier12 Super Round at the Tokyo Dome. Taiwan had seven hits, one more than Venezuela’s six, but catcher Carlos Perez’s two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning delivered the only runs scored by both teams and secured victory for Venezuela. Taiwan’s best chance came at the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and only one out. However, Venezuela reliever Liarvis Breto struck out Chen Chen-wei before reliever Pedro Garcia finished the inning by allowing an infield flyball by Lin
RSS