All eyes will be on Argentina as they take on Mexico in the last match of the day as they suffered one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with a 2-1 defeat over Saudi Arabia.
Besides, Mexico’s low-scoring and injury-hit squad bore out pre-tournament pessimism in their first game, drawing 0-0 against Poland.
There is considerable pressure on Argentina heading into their second game of Group C against Mexico on Saturday evening, with Lionel Scaloni's men knowing anything but a victory would complicate their qualification for the knockout stages.
La Albiceleste's defeat to Saudi Arabia on Tuseday was one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history and ended a run of 36 matches without a loss.
Argentina vs Mexico first goal scorer odds
Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before things went wrong against Saudi Arabia and the Paris Saint-Germain forward is priced at to break the deadlock once more.
Lautaro Martinez meanwhile looked dangerous in the first half of the first game having a couple of goals ruled out and is offered at with Angel Di Maria.
For Mexico, Wolves striker Raul Jimenez did not start against Poland but is the shortest priced of El Tri's player to net first at with Hirving Lozano.
Argentina vs Mexico preview
While Mexico do not boast a good record against their rivals from South America, El Tri will take heart from just how poor Argentina were in the second half against Saudi Arabia.
La Albiceleste looked nervous and devoid of ideas and the sky-high levels of expectations back home clearly put the side under immense pressure.
If Mexico can keep things tight early on, Argentina are likely to become increasingly desperate which is when they will be at their most vulnerable.
Expect a tight opening to this game which neither side can afford to lose and opposing a high-scoring encounter looks like an obvious selection.
MATCH FACTS
- Argentina are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Mexico in all competitions (W7 D3) since a 1-0 loss in the 2004 Copa América.
- Mexico have lost all three of their FIFA World Cup games against Argentina, going down 6-3 in 1930, 2-1 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2010. Only Austria (4 vs Italy) and Nigeria (5 vs Argentina) have faced an opponent more often in the competition while losing every time.
- Argentina's defeat against Saudi Arabia on MD1 ended a run of 13 straight World Cup victories against non-European nations, since losing to Cameroon in 1990. They've never lost consecutive World Cup matches against non-European sides before.
- Argentina have lost four of their last six World Cup matches (W1 D1), as many as they had in their previous 25 in the competition (W16 D5). They've lost their last two games at the tournament, only losing three in a row once before (between 1930 and 1958).
- Following their 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia on MD1, Argentina are looking to avoid losing both of 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 blank in four straight games at the tournament, with this their 59th fixture at the finals.
- After drawing their opener at the 2022 World Cup 0-0 against Poland, Mexico could fail to win both of their opening two matches of an edition of the tournament for the first time since 1978, when they lost all three of their group games.
- Argentina players were flagged offside 10 times in their 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia – it's their highest on record (since 1966) in a single World Cup match, and already four more than they were caught offside in the entire 2018 tournament (6).
- Lionel Messi has scored in each of his last five appearances for Argentina in all competitions – only once has he scored in six in a row, doing so 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 Mexico goalkeeper to save a penalty at the World Cup (excl. shootouts) since Opta have this data available (from 1966). The last ‘keeper to save two penalties outside of shootouts at a single World Cup was USA’s Brad Friedel in 2002 (2).
Source: online
BDST: 1232 HRS, NOV 26, 2022
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