World Cup Preview: Argentina vs Mexico Betting Odds

On Saturday Mexico will play Argentina in the World Cup for only the second time in their history. Way back in the first ever World Cup, in 1930 Argentina beat Mexico 6–3. There will not be any revenge issues since no one remembers that, but there will be plenty at stake in this game.

Mexico has had an old love/hate relationship with Argentina. Most recently, the Mexicans are bitter over the Confederations Cup loss to Argentina last year on penalty kicks. Mexico isn’t fond of the fact that Argentina won the World Cup which Mexico hosted in 1986, while in Argentina in ’78 El Tri didn’t even win a game to make it out of the first round.

There are countless Argentinean players in the Mexican league, as well as several coaches, even the national team has Guillermo Franco and its coach Ricardo La Volpe, but in Argentina, it is rare to see any foreign players, or coaches.

Mexico’s coach was a backup goalkeeper for the 1978 World Cup championship team. However, his career took off in Mexico, where he has been for 26 years, and coached the national side since 2002.

LaVolpe guarded the net during an Argentina friendly in Mexico August 31st, 1975 at Azteca Stadium, which ended 1-1 draw. After the ’78 World Cup he came to Mexico to play for Atlante, and after his retirement, went on to coach various club sides, and led Atlante to the 1992 championship.

His career peaked when he was selected to replace Manuel Lapuente as national team coach in ’02, in order to get the team to the 2006 World Cup. His first game as head coach was February 4th, 2003 against Argentina, who won 1-0.

Will his last game also be against Argentina?

So far this is the most intriguing match-up of the field of 16. The closest thing we could get to a rivalry. You can bet Mexico will get up for this game, unlike the Angola and Portugal games.

Nevertheless, Argentina’s firepower will overwhelm Mexico in the end. Though they won’t score six goals, Argentina will tango all the way to the quarterfinals.