FIFA technical official rates Argentina-Mexico game great match
25/6/2006 10:47
Andy Roxburgh, a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group, on Saturday
hailed the Argentina-Mexico game as a great match at the World Cup.
Argentina
edged Mexico 2-1 in extra time with a full-time 1-1 draw, advancing to the
quarterfinals.
"This was the most intense game of the FIFA World Cup so far,
and the two sides put on a spectacular show. Argentina were the big favourites
going into the game, but Mexico proved a match for them," Roxburgh said.
"The
main difference in both sides' approach to the game was that Mexico were more
fluid, their movement was excellent and the players combined well with each
other.
"Argentina were a little more structured, with the outstanding
Mascherano the ball-winner in midfield and Juan Riquelme playing some great, and
some not-so-great passes, " he added.
Mexico defender Marquez's opening goal,
which came after a superb, well-rehearsed move, changed the rhythm of the game.
It forced Argentina to look for an equaliser immediately and they got one with a
somewhat fortunate goal. The level of intensity did not drop thereafter and both
sides played some high-quality football.
"The two teams looked evenly matched
in extra-time, but Lionel Messi tipped the balance. It seemed as if Argentina
would take the lead at any time thanks to his extraordinary skills. What decided
the match, though, was Maxi Rodriguez's fabulous goal, a wonderful way to decide
a game such as this," Roxburgh said.
"You have to feel very sorry for MexiCo
Their players more than held their own and were tactically superb. They had the
great misfortune to lose Pardo early on, an absolutely vital player to them. At
the end of the day, it was going to take an exceptional goal to settle the game,
and that's how it turned out, " he noted.
Xinhua
|
