Football World Cup 2022: Argentina saves itself

Argentina seems uninspired this evening. Actually, they should step on the gas after the defeat in the first game, but nobody runs, it's stagnant football, petty, small, no good combinations, no ideas, no attacking concept and 1001 bad passes, which are strung together. Tragic to watch. You think to yourself "No wonder if it's not enough then, do the players actually want to win and advance at all?" A team that wants to win at all costs plays differently, more spirited, more determined. In the game there is stagnation and no motivation and rather the Argentines are still under pressure from the Mexicans. The game: a disgrace for every Argentina fan. Thus, as a spectator, one is glad when the first half ends and one is redeemed from this nasty game.

The redeeming goal
After the whistle for the second half, the tough game continues. Apparently, the Argentine coach, Lionel Scaloni, seems to have had enough and in the 62nd minute he brings on two new players for Argentina, who should bring a breath of fresh air into the game. The game shifts back to the middle, Argentina on the attack and suddenly, out of nowhere, Lionel Messi pulls the trigger and scores!!!! in the 63rd minute. That was the redeeming goal. The spell of defeat is broken.

But now the Mexicans are stepping on the gas again, but only now that it's necessary. They're already all together heavy hitters who only step on the gas when they have to, otherwise they're moving at a nice slow pace. For the Argentines it means now to watch out. And now the Argentines change again two forces, now a total of four fresh players on the court.

The death blow
But soon it's another tough little passing game on both sides and Argentina waits for counterattacking chances and suddenly Enzo Fernandez takes heart in the Mexican penalty area and shoots a wide curved ball into the top right corner of the Mexican goal, unstoppable for Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa: 2:0 for Argentina in the 87th minute. That's it. Argentina is saved. The Mexicans ran out of steam.

With today's win, Argentina moves from fourth and last place in Group C with Poland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia to second place and the second qualifying spot for the final rounds. Their final match against Poland on Nov. 30, 2022, will determine whether they advance to the World Cup finals.

Argentina saved itself from an early exit with today's win, but with today's play Argentina won't get far, the team around Lionel Messi still has to improve significantly if they want to have a chance in the final rounds.