Key events
“I bought a 65-inch new telly to watch this twaddle,” says Paul. “This game has sent my wife and the cat to sleep.”
Fifa have got some nerve scheduling a World Cup during Black Friday.
“Mexico playing five across the back when Argentina have the ball and two defensive mids in front of that, giving Messi no spaces to run into and forcing him deeper,” says Rick McGahey. “Martino knows his opponent.”
There’s no eye in the Mexican needle, that’s for sure. I’m surprised Argentina haven’t looked for their full-backs more.
Half-time reading
Half time: Argentina 0-0 Mexico
That was probably the worst 45 minutes of the tournament, but the tension and importance of the game made it must-see TV. There was only one shot on target, a free-kick from the lively Alexis Vega that was saved comfortably by Emi Martinez. See you soon for the second half.
45+6 min Di Maria gives it to Messi, who plays in the overlapping left-back Acuna. He hammers a dangerous low cross that is put behind at the near post. That was good defending, even if I’m not sure whodunnit.
45+5 min Vega smashes a half-volley into orbit from about 25 yards. He’s a confident boy.
45+3 min “This match,” says Chris Holborn, “reminds me of West Ham under David Moyes this season except for the sombreros.”
There’s more of a fedora culture at the London Stadium isn’t there.
45+2 min Messi reminds us of his presence by, er, fouling Gutierrez. He looks thoroughly hacked off.
45+2 “Surely if we’re talking about people who’ve gone out on top, Ash Barty’s a shoo-in?” writes Charan. “Winning a grand slam then retiring at the grand old age of 25 is probably the way to do it.”
45+1 min There will be five minutes of added tension.
45 min Vega curls a good free-kick over the wall, and Emi Martinez flies to his right to make a fairly majestic – and camera-friendly – two-handed catch.
43 min The substitute Gutierrez is fouled 25 yards from goal by Montiel, who is booked. It was an absurd tackle, an agricultural hack to the shins when Gutierrez got to a loose ball first.
41 min: Mexico substitution Ah, this is sad. Andreas Guardado, who has played in every World Cup since 2006, is going off injured. He’s replaced by Erick Gutierrez.
41 min The corner is taken short to Di Maria, whose inswinging cross is headed wretchedly high and wide by Lautaro Martinez. He’d been penalised for a push, so it wouldn’t have counted, but it was a really poor header.
40 min Montiel’s cross goes behind for a corner. Since you asked, Messi has done nothing, but really that applies to all the attacking players. Lozano has looked quite bright for Mexico; that’s about it.
39 min “Regarding the 9th minute, really, who does go out on top?” says Travis Giblin. “I’ll nominate Zidane, but maybe that wasnt quite the definition of ‘the top’ that Nick Parmenter is looking for.”
It’s fascinatingly rare in all sports. Even utter geniuses like Don Bradman, Usain Bolt and Phil Taylor couldn’t manage it.
Zidane wins the David Chase award for best on-my-terms ending.
37 min See 27 min, apart from the bit about the cross. It’s rubbish.
36 min Lisandro Martinez goes down holding his face. This time, with good reason: Lozano accidentally booted him in the jaw. Teak-tough 5ft 9ins defender that he is, Martinez is fine to continue.
34 min Messi swings it under the crossbar, where Ochoa punches the ball up in the air. He goes for the second ball, feels a bit of contact from a Martinez, don’t ask me which one, and goes down. It was probably a foul to be fair.
I’ve just realised that Ochoa is dressed like a Nathan Barley character.
33 min De Paul is fouled by Vega on the right wing, close to the corner flag. Messi wanders over to get involved…
32 min I can’t wait to hear Roy Keane’s views on this at half-time. He’ll be reaching for the sh-word, and I don’t mean shithousery.
31 min Nothing’s happening. It’s a great occasion let down only by the football.
29 min “Just want to remind all Argentina fans that if Argentina draw this match, they will definitely meet the French in the last 16,” writes Anis Aslaam. “That’s assuming that they can defeat Poland first.”
Good point. Maybe, as Zafar wrote in the 23rd minute, it is 2018 all over again.
28 min Messi heads miles over from Acuna’s cross, but it wouldn’t have counted as Acuna had already been penalised for plunging his studs into Alvarez’s leg. It was accidental, I think.
28 min The player of the match so far is this little rascal.
27 min Kevin Alvarez hoofs a cross straight out of play. In terms of quality and entertainment, this is muck. In terms of tension and importance, it’s exquisite.
26 min “This,” says Alexandra Fullerton, “is like watching Costa Rica…”
CR7, as they’re now known.
25 min After good play from Messi and De Paul (I think), Montiel’s first-time cross drifts out of play beyond the far post. He was offside anyway.
23 min “Could it be that Argentina are simply not very good?” says Zafar. “This looks very much like the 2018 team.”
It could indeed, though I suppose the 2018 team didn’t go 35 games without defeat. They haven’t looked good so far, that’s for sure; their passing has been especially poor.
22 min Araujo is booked for a lunge at Acuna. He got the ball but followed through, studs up, so it was a fair decision.
21 min Mexico try a training-ground free-kick, but the final ball is too close to Emi Martinez.
20 min The effervescent Lozano wriggles away from Otamendi and is fouled. Free-kick to Mexico, 30 yards from goal…
Discussion about this post