Sports

‘Doing everything’ to beat Argentina


Doha, Qatar — Mexico manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino says he will do “everything possible” to beat his home team Argentina and star player Lionel Messi from the World Cup,

Argentine-born coach Martino, who was Messi’s coach at Barcelona during the 2013-14 campaign, made a blunt assessment of his former player’s exclusion from the tournament.

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“What would you do in my place? I know where I was born, I’ll tell you the year, the name of the hospital, the zip code of the city,” Martino said at a pre-match press conference on Friday. “But I have to do everything I can for Mexico to win.”

While Mexico are entering Saturday’s game at Lusail Stadium with a point after a 0-0 draw with PolandArgentina will be desperate to recover from their shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their World Cup opening match.

Another loss to Argentina means an early exit from the tournament for a team seen as one of the brightest contenders to win the trophy.

It also means another failed version of the World Cup for Messi, who said that he is playing in his last tournament.

Martino was skeptical that he could do much to stop the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s efforts.

Martino said: “The stopping of him happened more often because he was having a bad afternoon than we could have done. “At least the best player of the last 15 years.”

Before Mexico faces Argentina on Saturday, other Group C members Poland and Saudi Arabia will play at the Education City Stadium earlier in the day.

After the weekend’s games, Mexico will finish the group stage against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on Wednesday, while Argentina will face Poland at Stadium 974, also on Wednesday.

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