Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa spoke about having to play against Argentina and Lionel Messi at the World Cup.
Guillermo Ochoa will be the goalkeeper that Argentina have to beat on Saturday in their second group game. Mexico drew 0-0 in their opening game at the World Cup and are on one point. Talking about playing against Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team, here is what he had to say:
“Messi has that magic, he can be doing nothing and from one minute to the next, he can solve it and score a goal. It will be a beautiful and difficult challenge. We are ready to compete and to show our faces.
“I don’t like the “hey, I don’t want to play against someone because it’s very difficult” or “I want to avoid this team because it’s very complicated”. No, I think that the opposite. I want to play against them at a World Cup. I want to play a good match against them. We want to beat them.”
Argentina will hold a training session on Thursday where coach Lionel Scaloni will test out the players.
Lionel Scaloni will have his Argentina team train on Thursday afternoon and that is set to give an indication as to how the team could line up on Saturday vs. Mexico. According to TyC Sports, the team will train behind closed doors with Julián Álvarez, Lisandro Martínez and Enzo Fernández all having a chance to start.
Scaloni is not expected to repeat the same starting eleven which lost 2-1 vs. Saudi Arabia in their opening game at the World Cup. The team will train on Friday behind closed doors.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni is set to make changes for the team with reports of some of the names which could start.
Lionel Scaloni is expected to make at least two changes for Argentina with three of them being substitutions which we saw against Saudi Arabia. Cristian Cuti Romero was substituted out for Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia and replaced with Lisandro Martínez. According to Diario Olé, Lisandro could start in place of Romero vs. Mexico on Saturday.
The two fullbacks for Argentina were Nicolás Tagliafico and Nahuel Molina. Scaloni could change one of them or both of them with Gonzalo Montiel or Marcos Acuña starting.
Papu Gómez started in midfield with Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes. For the game against Mexico, one of Enzo Fernández or Alexis Mac Allister will start in place of Papu in midfield. If those four changes would be made, the starting eleven would be the following:
Emiliano Dibu Martínez; Acuña, Lisandro Martínez, Otamendi, Montiel; Enzo or Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Di María, Lautaro, Messi
Changes are expected for Argentina in their game vs. Mexico as Lionel Messi held a team meeting.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni is not expected to field the same starting eleven vs. Mexico as he did against Saudi Arabia. According to Gastón Edul, Scaloni is set to make at least two changes to the tam.
Lionel Messi also held a team meeting after the game between Mexico and Poland. Messi told the players that they should be more united than ever and to be calm.
The Argentina national team lost their opening match at the 2022 World Cup 2-1 vs. Saudi Arabia but can still qualify for the next round.
Lionel Scaloni’s team are presently in last place in the group with one point difference between themselves, Mexico and Poland. Argentina have a goal difference of -1 having scored the opening goal in the group.
The second game in the group involving Mexico and Poland ended in a 0-0 draw. These are the standings:
Saudi Arabia: 2 goals, 3 points Poland: 0 goals, 1 point Mexico: 0 goals, 1 point Argentina: 1 goal, 0 points
Argentina play Mexico on Saturday as Poland play Saudi Arabia. A win for Argentina vs. Mexico would get them to three points and should Saudi Arabia get the win vs. Poland, it would mean Argentina would go into the last match day in second place. The table would look like this:
Saudi Arabia: 6 points Argentina: 3 points Poland: 1 point Mexico: 1 point
A win for Argentina vs. Mexico with a win for Poland vs. Saudi Arabia and the table would look like this:
Poland: 4 points Saudi Arabia: 3 points Argentina: 3 points Mexico: 1 point
A win for Argentina vs. Mexico and a draw between Poland and Saudi Arabia, the table would look like this:
Saudi Arabia: 4 points Argentina: 3 points Poland: 2 points Mexico: 1 point
A draw for Argentina vs. Mexico with a win for Saudi Arabia vs. Poland and the table would look like this:
Saudi Arabia: 6 points Mexico: 2 points Argentina: 1 point Poland: 1 point
A draw for Argentina vs. Mexico with a win for Poland vs. Saudi Arabia and the table would look like this:
Poland: 4 points Saudi Arabia: 3 points Mexico: 2 points Argentina: 1 point
A draw between Argentina and Mexico and a draw between Saudi Arabia and Poland, the table would look like this:
Saudi Arabia: 4 points Mexico: 2 points Poland: 2 points Argentina: 1 point
