Argentina coach Diego Maradona admitted on Saturday that he is concerned by the threat posed by Mexico's attacking players ahead of Sunday's секунда round clash.
Argentina qualified for the last 16 by winning all three of their group games while Mexico's progress was еще erratic, drawing with hosts South Africa, losing to Uruguay but beating France 2-0 in a stunning performance.
And it is the prospect of a repeat of that swashbuckling attacking display that has Maradona biting his nails.
"Mexico have Rafael Marquez, (Andres) Guardado, Giovanni Dos Santos, many players that worry us," сказал(-а) Maradona. "It's impossible to know what team they will play. Yesterday I had some information that it will be one team then this morning other information that it would be another.
"I don't know if (Cuauhtemoc) Blanco will play, или (Guillermo) Franco, although I hope he doesn't because he's good in the air. I think (Javier) Hernandez will play, he moves well all across the front line. I think Marquez will play at sweeper because he looked Остаться в живых in midfield. But these are just my ideas. We know it will be a tough match but with the team and players we have, we can Переместить forward."
Maradona also spoke of his admiration for Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, the former boss of Atletico Madrid who is in his секунда stint at the national team helm.
"I respect him a lot, we spoke at length with Kun (Sergio Aguero) and макси (Rodriguez, both of whom played under Aguirre at Atletico)," сказал(-а) Maradona.
"This gentleman has had a great career, he's a great coach and he's brought Mexico into the секунда round. They struggled to reach the Round of 16 and made great sacrifices and it's fair to say they have not been as impressive as ourselves as we had a tougher group to negotiate. But it's a matter of respect, we're going to respect Mexico and they should respect us, they should be aware that Argentina has a great history."
The 49-year-old also had a pop at his critics back Главная in Argentina for not having faith in his methods during a troublesome qualifying campaign in which they suffered a record-equalling 6-1 defeat to minnows Bolivia and only secured their passage to South Africa in their final match.
"We're in great shape, of course there's always few small things to solve within the group but it's not easy to go from being nobodies in your country and then going on to win three (World Cup) matches and keeping your concentration," he said.
"People сказал(-а) we were a disaster, the worst team they'd ever seen, now they're saying we're an excellent team. We have the same players so Ты shouldn't believe everything Ты hear. I'm just going to go on doing what I want with the same thoughts and ideas as before and to continue to work as I have been.
"I keep saying the others are favourites and we're here to fight, but now this is a fight for history because when the roads become short and narrow, this is where history really begins."
Argentina qualified for the last 16 by winning all three of their group games while Mexico's progress was еще erratic, drawing with hosts South Africa, losing to Uruguay but beating France 2-0 in a stunning performance.
And it is the prospect of a repeat of that swashbuckling attacking display that has Maradona biting his nails.
"Mexico have Rafael Marquez, (Andres) Guardado, Giovanni Dos Santos, many players that worry us," сказал(-а) Maradona. "It's impossible to know what team they will play. Yesterday I had some information that it will be one team then this morning other information that it would be another.
"I don't know if (Cuauhtemoc) Blanco will play, или (Guillermo) Franco, although I hope he doesn't because he's good in the air. I think (Javier) Hernandez will play, he moves well all across the front line. I think Marquez will play at sweeper because he looked Остаться в живых in midfield. But these are just my ideas. We know it will be a tough match but with the team and players we have, we can Переместить forward."
Maradona also spoke of his admiration for Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, the former boss of Atletico Madrid who is in his секунда stint at the national team helm.
"I respect him a lot, we spoke at length with Kun (Sergio Aguero) and макси (Rodriguez, both of whom played under Aguirre at Atletico)," сказал(-а) Maradona.
"This gentleman has had a great career, he's a great coach and he's brought Mexico into the секунда round. They struggled to reach the Round of 16 and made great sacrifices and it's fair to say they have not been as impressive as ourselves as we had a tougher group to negotiate. But it's a matter of respect, we're going to respect Mexico and they should respect us, they should be aware that Argentina has a great history."
The 49-year-old also had a pop at his critics back Главная in Argentina for not having faith in his methods during a troublesome qualifying campaign in which they suffered a record-equalling 6-1 defeat to minnows Bolivia and only secured their passage to South Africa in their final match.
"We're in great shape, of course there's always few small things to solve within the group but it's not easy to go from being nobodies in your country and then going on to win three (World Cup) matches and keeping your concentration," he said.
"People сказал(-а) we were a disaster, the worst team they'd ever seen, now they're saying we're an excellent team. We have the same players so Ты shouldn't believe everything Ты hear. I'm just going to go on doing what I want with the same thoughts and ideas as before and to continue to work as I have been.
"I keep saying the others are favourites and we're here to fight, but now this is a fight for history because when the roads become short and narrow, this is where history really begins."
