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It could be a shootout between the two teams

SEAN INGLE

JOHANNESBURG: A little over two weeks ago, on the morning of the World Cup finals, Diego Maradona faced the world's media and did what he always does: wave his hands like a traffic policeman in the Buenos Aires rush hour, hold forth about every topic imaginable and flit from quiet contemplation to frantic hollering, often within the same answer.

Most regarded him as an eccentric curiosity a manager who had used 107 players in qualification, didn't have much idea of his best team, and had repeatedly failed to get the best out of the world's best player in a generation.

Things have certainly changed. Three successive victories in Group B — achieved through an unlikely combination of bear-hugs, laughter, cajoling, coarse humour and a tactical sophistication few expected — have, inevitably, led to huge expectation back home.

Striking difference

Even Lionel Messi, who was made Argentina's youngest-ever captain against Greece, finally seems settled in the colours of the Albicelestes. So how has Maradona done it? According to Sergio Goycochea, a teammate at the 1990 World Cup, “it's only now that he has had a chance to be a full month with the entire squad. It has allowed him to connect with the players, understand them and give them his support.” The difference is striking.

Having given many of his second string a run-out during the victory against Greece on Tuesday, Maradona is planning to return to the players who began Argentina's campaign with that 1-0 victory over Nigeria, with two crucial differences.

According to journalists close to the national squad, the rugged Velez Sarsfield centre-back Nicolas Otamendi will continue at right-back after replacing the suspended Jonas Gutirrez against Greece, while Juan Sebastian Veron, ‘the little witch', who is closest of anyone to Maradona in the squad, will be dropped to make way for Maxi Rodriguez.

Both decisions smack of common sense. Gutirrez, a converted left-midfielder-cum-right-back, was out of his depth against Nigeria and Greece and, while Veron's passes are still as soft and loving as a baby's caress, he lollops around even more slowly than he did in his prime. Rodriguez, while not in the class of Esteban Cambiasso, who was strangely left out of Argentina's squad, is a little quicker and snappier than Veron, and alongside Javier Mascherano will certainly stiffen the midfield.

It was Rodriguez, of course, who scored a brilliant extra-time volley when Argentina faced Mexico four years ago in Germany, a 2-1 loss that condemned the Mexicans to their fourth successive second round exit.

Ready for revenge

So it is perhaps not surprising that the Mexican media fears Javier Aguirre's team will tumble out at this stage again. But neither their pessimism nor Tuesday's defeat against Uruguay has winded the confidence of Mexico's close-knit squad. They are ready for revenge.

“We are better than that Mexico team, which didn't have so many players in European teams,” insisted their captain, Rafael Marquez. “Argentina has the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and that makes them more complete. But we will try to change all that. I have a thorn in my side from four years ago and hopefully on Sunday we can take it out.”

Much rests on whether the crop of young players that Aguirre has called “the best generation in Mexican history” can live up to his boast.

Striker Carlos Vela remains a major doubt for Sunday's game with his twanged hamstring, although he did participate in passing drills in small spaces alongside Giovani Dos Santos and Guillermo Franco on Friday.

Franco is expected to start up front, with recent Manchester United-signing Javier Hernandez on the bench.

Poor record

Mexico's record against Argentina — four wins in 25 internationals — hardly provides reason for optimism. And nor does the fact that they have only reached the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986, when the World Cup was held on home soil.

But, Aguirre's team is blessed with the impetuousness of youth and built to attack. Argentina have the bigger guns, but perhaps the weaker defence too. It could end up being a shoot-out in Soccer City. A repeat of 2006's minor classic would down go nicely.

Likely XI:

Argentina: Sergio Romero; Jonas Gutierrez, Martin Demichelis, Walter Samuel, Gabriel Heinze; Maxi Rodriguez, Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria; Lionel Messi; Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain.

Mexico: Oscar Perez; Ricardo Osorio, Hector Moreno, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido; Rafael Marquez; Efrain Juarez, Gerardo Torrado; Giovani dos Santos, Guillermo Franco, Carlos Vela . — © Guardian News and Media 2010

Argentina (4-3-1-2): Diego Maradona made wholesale changes ahead of the final group game against Greece, but is expected to revert to his first choice XI against Mexico. Up front, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez should return in place of Sergio Aguero and Diego Milito, and captain Javier Mascherano will be back in midfield in place of Mario Bolatti.

Mexico (4-1-2-3): Efrain Juarez will be back in midfield, after serving a one-match suspension. Guillermo Franco is expected to retain his place as the central striker despite calls for Javier Hernandez to claim a place in the starting XI .

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