Argentina 2 Mexico 1: Mexico felled by Rodriguez rocket

We had come to praise Argentina, instead we were entranced by Mexico. The sight of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Juan Roman Riquelme tormenting defenders in Saturday night's knock-out tie between Argentina and Mexico was no surprise. But when Ricardo Osorio, Mexico's centre-back, switched to the right-wing and started dribbling past Juan Pablo Sorin, the Argentinian captain, a few misconceptions had to be addressed. Perhaps Mexico are worthy of the top 10 billing Fifa's rankings system has given them. And perhaps our own highly regarded defenders are nowhere near as good as we think they are.

The thought of England's Sol Campbell, John Terry or even Rio Ferdinand abandoning the day job to become a latter-day Stanley Matthews beggars belief. And it is not as if Osorio, a 26-year-old who has spent his entire career at Cruz Azul, cannot defend. He was an integral part of a Mexican back three which kept Argentina's much-vaunted attack largely under wraps for 120 minutes.

Oswaldo Sanchez, the El Tri goalkeeper, did have to make some saves but it took an own goal and a wonder goal to defeat the Central Americans. The own goal, scored by Bolton's Javier Borgetti, has been awarded to Hernan Crespo by Fifa's increasingly erratic technical study group. But Crespo was an accessory: he may have got a toe to Riquelme's corner but it was Borgetti who headed it in.

The goal cancelled out a well-worked early strike from Rafael Marquez which had showcased Argentina's aerial deficiencies, but it did not lead to the Argentinians dominating. Not until Maxi Rodriguez matched Joe Cole's volley against Sweden in extra time did they gain the ascendancy. Germany were given plenty of reasons for optimism ahead of Friday's quarter-final in Berlin.

"We're going to get stronger," said Jose Pekerman, the Argentina coach, afterwards. "A World Cup is not a bed of roses, all kinds of things happen. The physical response was very good and the team gained strength from the [attacking] options [introduced off the bench]. The possibility of scoring is always latent."

That much was true but Marquez, a Champions' League winner with Barcelona, said Mexico had proved their quality. "We played so well and unsettled Argentina," he said. "I'm not trying to look for silver linings, but Mexico found their true level in that game."

Marquez and Borgetti are the only Mexicans in the squad to be based in Europe (Villarreal's Guillermo Franco, who did not play on Saturday, is a naturalised Argentinian). The captain added: "A lot of coaches will look at that game and be impressed and I think that will help other Mexican players to come and play in Europe." Osorio, the third defender, Carlos Salcido, the quick-footed substitute Zinha, teenage midfielder Andres Guardado and Francisco Fonseca, though quiet on Saturday, may attract attention.

Nevertheless for the fourth consecutive finals Mexico had been dismissed in the second round. The Argentinian-born coach, Ricardo La Volpe can at least take consolation in the manner of their exit, which should ensure he retains his post despite envious criticism from Mexico's legendary striker, Hugo Sanchez. "I am very proud of the way we played and the group that we have created," he said. "We will continue our work and I'm sure many of the players will still be around for the finals in 2010."

While Mexico return home to a similar reception to the one accorded Glenn Hoddle's England team when beaten on penalties by Argentina in 1998, the victors maintained the impressive record of reaching the last eight in every finals staged in Europe since 1958.

The question is whether they can go further. The answer may lie in when Pekerman entrusts the electrifying Tevez with a start. One moment in extra time, when he drew defenders to him like a honeypot attracting bees, then played a one-two with Messi, spinning into space as he did, was startling. By then Osorio was far away on the wing, attempting his own wizardry.

Argentina (4-1-2-1-2): Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors); Scaloni (West Ham United), Ayala (Valencia), Heinze (Manchester United), Sorin (Villarreal); Mascherano (Corinthians); Cambiasso (Internazionale), Rodriguez (A Madrid); Riquelme (Villarreal); Saviola (Seville), Crespo (Chelsea). Substitutes used: Aimar (Valencia) for Cambiasso (76); Messi (Barcelona) for Saviola (83); Tevez (Corinthians) for Crespo (75).

Mexico (3-3-3-1): Sanchez (Guadalajara); Marquez (Barcelona), Osorio (Cruz Azul), Salcido (Guadalajara); Mendez (Monterrey), Pardo (America), Guardado (Atlas); Castro (America), J Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Morales (Guadalajara); Borgetti (Bolton). Substitutes used: Torrada (Cruz Azul) 38, for Pardo, Pineda (Guadalajara) 66 for Guardado, Zinha (Toluca) 73 for Morales.

Referee: M Busacca (Switzerland).

Booked: Argentina Heinze, Sorin; Mexico Marquez, Castro, Torrado, Fonseca.

Man of the match: Osorio.