Maradona plays it cool

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has shrugged off concerns over his side's controversial opening goal in their 3-1 win over Mexico


The Albicelestes appeared under the cosh somewhat during the opening stages of the game at Soccer City as Mexico launched a wave of attacks, with Carlos Salcido striking the crossbar eight minutes in.

But the game changed complexion in the 25th minute when a poor clearance from Mexico stopper Oscar Perez fell for Lionel Messi to chip the ball forward for Carlos Tevez to nod home.

Tevez was clearly in an off-side position by about a yard but linesman Stefano Ayroldi allowed the goal to stand to the frustration of the Mexicans who rapidly conceded again eight minutes later as Gonzalo Higuain pounced on a defensive mistake.

Maradona, though, simply said the goal was poetic justice for Messi and the Argentina side, after their little superstar has been targeted for some rough house treatment.

"He (Mexico coach Javier Aguirre) must have felt the same as we have felt when Messi gets kicked around and the referee does not act," Maradona said.

"Whenever Messi has the ball everyone is trying to kick his legs. What is being done to him is a scandal - they don't even look for the ball they try to kick him.

"I understand the Mexicans' feelings but there is a limit to everything."

Having opened the scoring controversially, Tevez finished off the contest in the most emphatic fashion seven minutes after the break as he produced a spectacular curling strike that gave Perez no chance.

"I was lucky enough to see the goal open up for me and score a couple of important goals, although it wasn't easy tonight," Tevez told FIFA.com.

"We struggled to get into the game in the first few minutes. We knew that Mexico would pressurise us and that they had the potential to harm us.

"We couldn't build any attacks because we didn't have the ball, but in the end we managed to play well and take a big step forward to the quarter-finals.

"We should savour this win and then make sure we rest for the Germany game. That won't be easy either."

Having seen Germany dismantle England 4-1 earlier in the day, Maradona is well aware of the task his side faces in the quarter-final, as Argentina look to avenge their defeat to Germany at the same stage in 2006.

That clash was a controversial one as well, with Argentina losing in a penalty shootout before tempers flared as players left the ground, leading to an all-in melee.

"We know Germany are a different team to Mexico, they are stronger," Maradona added.

"They played an open game against England and we must take stock of our situation on Monday and see how we have come out of this match, how the players are feeling and try to put together the right team to showcase our talents
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