Magician Messi on show again

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP):

Mexico will get the chance to erase a grudge nursed for four years when they meet Argentina in the World Cup second round today.

At the 2006 World Cup, Argentina beat Mexico - thanks to an extraordinary goal by Maxi Rodriguez - in the round of 16 and fate has conspired to match the two sides at precisely the same stage of this year's tournament.

"I have a thorn in my side from four years ago and hopefully on Sunday we can take it out," said midfielder Rafael Marquez, who scored Mexico's solitary goal in that 2-1 defeat in 2006.

But the challenge looks formidable against Diego Maradona's attack-minded team, which everyone wants to avoid this time around.

And it's not just the prolific strikeforce of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez that the Mexicans will need to contain in Pretoria.

Playing in midfield will be that man Maxi, who would settle for any winner today rather than a repeat of his 2006 wonder goal.

"I'll be happy if I can just tap it in," he said Friday. "What happened in that game is history now. The important thing is that the team wins and progresses."

The two teams have played each other 25 times, of which the Mexicans have only won four.

But Mexico, so shaky to start qualifying before recovering to play well, turned it on when it counted in South Africa, beating 2006 runners-up France 2-0 on the way to finishing second in Group A.

Argentina, unbeaten in their group and capable of scoring goals from all over the field, are expecting Javier Aguirre's team to be solid at the back and not take too many risks.

Very intelligent coach

"Aguirre is a very intelligent coach," Maxi said Friday. "I don't think they'll come out attacking us right away. They'll almost certainly wait to hit us on the counter."

The Liverpool winger is expected to start the evening game at Soccer City after lining up alongside Maradona's first-choice players in training Friday.

"We'll have to wait until Diego names the team, but if he chooses me, I hope I perform well," said Maxi.

Mexico's Marquez said the team isn't daunted by the prospect of Messi, the Barcelona forward who has lit up the tournament but has yet to score himself.

"We are better than that (2006) Mexico team, which didn't have so many players in European teams," Marquez said. "(Argentina) have the best player in the world, Leo Messi, and that makes them more complete. But we will try to change all that."

• ROUND OF 16 - Saturday, June 26

Uruguay 2, South Korea 1

Ghana 2, United States 1, extra time

Sunday, June 27Bloemfontein, South Africa

9:00 a.m.: Germany vs EnglandJohannesburg, Soccer City1:30 a.m.: Argentina vs MexicoMonday, June 28Durban, South Africa9:00 a.m.: Netherlands vs SlovakiaJohannesburg, Ellis Park1:30 p.m.: Brazil vs ChileTuesday, June 29Pretoria, South Africa9:00 a.m.: Paraguay vs JapanCape Town, South Africa1:30 p.m.: Spain vs Portugal

QUARTER-FINALS

Friday, July 2

Match 57

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

9:00 a.m.: Netherlands-Slovakia winners vs Brazil-Chile winnersMatch 58Johannesburg, Soccer City1:30 p.m.: Uruguay vs GhanaSaturday, July 3Match 59Cape Town, South Africa9:00 a.m.: Argentina-Mexico winners vs Germany-England winnersMatch 60Johannesburg, Ellis Park1:30 a.m.: Paraguay-Japan winners vs Spain-Portugal winners

SEMI-FINALS

Tuesday, July 6Cape Town, South Africa1:30 p.m.: Match 58 winners vs Match 57 winnersWednesday, July 7Durban, South Africa1:30 p.m.: Match 59 winners vs Match 60 winners

THIRD PLACE

Saturday, July 10Port Elizabeth, South Africa1:30 p.m.: Semi-final losers

FINAL

Sunday, July 11

Johannesburg, Soccer City

1:30 p.m.: Semi-final winnersLeading goalscorers(Players with two or more goals)3 - David Villa (Spain), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina), Robert Vittez (Slovakia), Landon Donovan (USA), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana).2 - Elano (Brazil), Tiago (Portugal), Keisuke Honda (Japan), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Brett Holman (Australia), Kalu Uche (Nigeria), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Lee Chung-yong (South Korea), Lee Jung Soo (South Korea).