How Martino’s Mexico plays, two old acquaintances who will be fundamental for the fate of the national team in Qatar 2022

Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa’s hands to save the penalty Robert Lewandowskithe figure of Poland, were the ones who drew, perhaps, the only grimace of relief on a Tuesday with chaotic connotations due to the Argentina national team on world Cup. And it is that the Mexico goalkeeper, with that sprint to avoid the Barcelona striker’s goal, ended up shaping the 0-0 with which ended the other match in Group C, the kindest result for Scaloni and company after the hard defeat against Saudi Arabia. And now? Two key matches, finals, to look for the eighth final of the World Cup. Mexico will be Argentina’s rival on Saturday. What team is it?

His letter of introduction, with the already questioned Gerardo “Tata” Martino on the substitute bench, found him as his present was: irregular, with good intentions but unresolved. It was Mexico who handled the ball better and also who took a more important position than Poland, but once again he lacked a plus to take the step forward and ended up diluting himself between the lack of ideas and his tactical discipline without a share of rebellion. The connection between Chucky Lozano, his best footballerand J.Orge Sánchez, Ajax wingerA repeated but ineffective formula for the Aztecs, aware of every positional movement but lacking depth to look first for Henry Martin and then Raúl Jiménez, the center forward chosen by Martino.

So much so that Martino’s men didn’t suffer during the 90 minutes, as much as the clearest opportunity to win came from his rival, who retired in the first half, He never hesitated to try to leave quickly and try to find Mexico in a bad light. Can Argentina replicate that idea? Although designed to handle the ball, he has interpreters to exploit the back row of the North Americans (Di María and Julián Álvarez with midfield shooters?), who have had difficulty defending the few centralized connections Poland have tried for Lewandoski (he generated the penalty against Moreno which Ochoa then saved).

The usual 4-3-3 proposed by Martino he had Edson Alvarez – Ajax man – as the decisive piece. With a slow pace, it is true, but capable of linking the relays between central defenders, he is the one who passes the ball into every Mexico build and then makes his way. Since Poland never came under pressure, it never bothered him: there you can have a key to conquering the central circle of the Albiceleste midfield on Saturday. And at the bank? The takes of Antuna and Carlos Rodríguez were piece by piece which did not alter the monotony of the match. Thus, despite being worn out, playing with intensity and looking like a hardworking team, Mexico’s image didn’t end up scaring us for the weekend. In each line there is an individual higher hierarchy from Argentina (there was also one before from Arabia). And collectively, if Scaloni’s men recover their memories quickly, the game should be tinged with blue-and-white.

“The result doesn’t change what we planned against Argentina. Now there will be two finals for each of the group members. We won’t be the most crouching rival or the bravest. We will play the match we have to play,” said Tata. Martino of what will be the match on Saturday. And he concluded: “We will play with the group favorite and candidate to win the World Cup. I don’t think today’s result will change the way Argentina would have played the second match.”