Mexico fears that a first goal at this World Cup from Argentina's Lionel Messi in the second round Sunday could dash its hopes of revenge for its defeat by the same opponent at the same stage four years ago. Argentina, which won the 2006 meeting 2-1 after extra time, and Mexico meet at Soccer City (1830 GMT) outside Johannesburg looking for a place in the quarterfinals against England or Germany. Barcelona club mates Messi and Rafael Marquez, who scored Mexico's early opener in that match in Leipzig, come face to face again after the Argentine came on as a substitute near the end of normal time on his 19th birthday. “We know it's difficult to get the ball off him, he's so quick and can change direction or pace at any time,” Marquez said Friday. “(Argentina) has the best player in the world.” Messi has never been on the losing side in three meetings with Mexico and scored a superb goal in the 3-0 victory at the 2007 Copa America and another in a 4-1 win in a friendly in San Diego two years ago. Yet to get off the mark in South Africa although he has created a string of chances and hit the woodwork twice, Messi's sole World Cup goal to date was in the 6-0 rout of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. Coach Diego Maradona, when comparing his impact in 1986 to Messi's now, reeled off a list of Argentine scorers at the Mexico finals and said “I came to the team's aid when they needed me” suggesting Messi will do the same. Argentina's attack has been scintillating and with Mexico also expected to retain a three-man attack, it should be as good an encounter as that four years ago when Hernan Crespo equalized and Maxi Rodriguez volleyed an extra-time winner voted goal of the tournament. “Defensively, (Argentina) is not the best, it has a great attack but its weakness is on the flanks. We must plan the game properly to play our best,” Marquez told reporters. Jonas Gutierrez, likely to return on the right of Argentina's defense after serving a suspension, said he was comfortable whether he had Juan Sebastian Veron or Rodriguez playing in front of him. Maradona admitted Saturday that he is concerned by the threat posed by Mexico's attacking players. “Mexico has Rafael Marquez, (Andres) Guardado, Giovanni Dos Santos, many players that worry us,” said Maradona. He also spoke of his admiration for Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, the former boss of Atletico Madrid who is in his second stint at the national team helm. “I respect him a lot, we spoke at length with Kun (Sergio Aguero) and Maxi (Rodriguez, both of whom played under Aguirre at Atletico),” said Maradona. “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 said 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.”
