Following second-half goals from Messi and Enzo Fernandez, Argentina has climbed to second place in Group C, a point behind Poland.
Doha, Qatar: Argentina beat Mexico 2-0 on Sunday, November 27, restoring to a large extent the county’s peace of mind and hopes in the World Cup tournament, a Reuters report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
Following second-half goals from Messi and Enzo Fernandez, Argentina has climbed to second place in Group C, a point behind Poland.
“It’s a weight off our shoulders,” Messi said. “We have peace of mind and it’s back in our hands again.”
After their shock opening 2-1 defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia, Argentina can now approach their final group game against Poland with peace of mind, captain Lionel Messi said.
Mexico blunted Argentina’s attack in the first half before Messi’s sublime 64th-minute strike eased the pressure on his side, which would have been eliminated from the tournament if they had lost.
“I think the first half was difficult due to the situation and our need to win,” Messi added. “We couldn’t find space. We weren’t moving the ball from side to side. But in the second half we started doing what we stand for. We started to find space between the lines and then the goal changed the game. We needed to win but the game had to be played this way. We had to win to give everyone peace of mind and to be able to approach the Poland game in a different way.”
Immense pressure
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged that his team had been under immense pressure before the match and that the overwhelming feeling after the win was one of relief.
“We should have more common sense. It’s just a football game,” he said. “It’s not good, the feeling that you’re playing something more than a football match. The feeling that we all had was relief.”
“I think the first half was difficult due to the situation and our need to win,” Messi added. “We couldn’t find space. We weren’t moving the ball from side to side. But in the second half we started doing what we stand for.
Dance of victory
A shirtless Lionel Messi sang and danced with team mates beyond midnight into Sunday after leading Argentina to an emotionally-charged win over Mexico that revived his dream of a first World Cup title.
Big crowds
Messi played in front of 88,966 spectators on Sunday, November 27, when Argentina beat Mexico 2-0, the largest attendance at a World Cup match in 28 years.
The Lusail Stadium, which will stage the final on December 18, hosted the most people at the World Cup since the 1994 final in the United States, according to FIFA. There were 91,194 people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to see Brazil beat Italy in that penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw
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