Martino, the Argentine coach who could not break the Mexican streak against the Albicelestes

The duel between Argentina vs. Mexico was the most anticipated confrontation of this second match date for Group C in this World Cup Qatar 2022. First a lash of Lionel Messi and then another by Enzo Fernández sealed the match and restored the illusion of all Argentines to continue with the goal of becoming world champions at the hands of the best player.

with this result Mexico falls again against the albiceleste in their fourth game in the World Cup. The first triumph of the Argentine team It was in Uruguay 1930. Which was repeated in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 and now in Qatar 2022.

The worst thing in history is that Mexico has been eliminated twice in a row against Argentina in the quarterfinals. In 2006 it was with Maxi Rodríguez’s great goal to make it 2-1 in the start, and in 2010 it was 3-1 with a controversial goal from Carlos Tevez. This time, the fall was in the group stage.

Record

In the preview of the game, Tata Martino was the protagonist, since as an Argentine he faced his country with the obligation to win and eliminate ‘Scaloneta’ from the World Cup in the Lusail stadium. Despite Mexico’s efforts, the Argentine claw was able to keep the three valuable points.

If history had been different, Martino would have become the first Argentine coach to beat his country in a World Cup (Lavolpe failed to do so in 2006). He would thus have entered an unusual and curious list of five coaches who beat their countries of origin in the history of the World Cups. Today Tata did not make it.

The Argentine coach took command of the Mexico team in 2019 with the aim of qualifying them for the World Cup in Qatar 2022. Now, in the Arab country, the Aztecs are looking at their next ambitious challenges: qualifying for the round of 16 , surpass that stage in which they have been present since 1994 and reach the quarterfinals to match their best performances precisely when they were hosts in 1970 and 1986.

The coach has led a total of 64 games in charge of the Mexico team and Qatar 2022 is his second World Cup as coach after having led Paraguay in South Africa 2010. It is worth remembering that Tata Martino was also coach of the albiceleste after the departure of Alejandro Sabella in 2014. The Argentine had just managed Messi at Barcelona in a forgotten season where the Catalan club did not do well.

However, Martino was chosen to replace a great Alejandro Sabella who left the fence very high after the final lost in Brazil 2014. The coach was in command of Argentina in a total of 29 games, playing the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario. His performance was not as expected and he ended up leaving the Albiceleste team.

Now with Mexico, Tata Martino hopes to redeem himself and show that he is a national team coach. Despite the many criticisms that fell on him in the run-up to the World Cup for leaving out important players like Chicharito Hernández, Mexico showed a good game in the draw against Poland. Regarding statistics, the balance tilts for the Argentines since in In the last 10 meetings between the two, ‘Scaloneta’ won eight and drew two. This World Cup match in Qatar is added to the account with a new advantage for the albiceleste.

With a draw and a defeat, the hopes of the Mexicans to qualify for the next stage of the tournament are much more complicated. If they cannot be among the first two in group C, Mexico would say goodbye to Qatar 2022 in the group stage, a fact that had not happened since England 1966. Those led by Tata Martino will play their last game this Tuesday against Saudi Arabia and it depends on the other results to remain in this World Cup.