It's ironic that the team hailing from the only country with a wave named after it then can't get the linesman to wave his offside flag, but that's where the Mexicans were at in their sudden-death match up against Argentina. Instead there were mid-match stoushes, verbal disagreements, and officials digging in their heels. Oh and Diego Maradona putting on his usual sideline show.
The Mexicans and English won't agree with me, but their exits were fairly fitting given that South Africa has been a World Cup characterised by a dodgy ball and dodgy decisions — neither of which anyone will own up to.
And it's bemusing that while the English are upset about a goal that should have been (the ball clearly crossed the line but then bounced back out), the Mexicans are upset about a goal that shouldn't have (Tevez was offside but the flag remained down). Either way, both teams are heading home amid reasonably valid claims that 'we wuz robbed'.
Truth be told, while I want to see teams from Group A get up, no one wants to see the Maradona sideshow wind up just yet. The team is in cracking form (and probably would have won regardless of the controversial goal). And only Maradona could outshine a team of such calibre. His summary of the Tevez goal? It looked — this coming from Mr Hand of God himself — 'absolutely normal'. What the man will do next is anybody's guess. And no, I'm not talking team tactics.
Credit to the Mexican coach for his backhanded refusal to bag the referees, though. He wouldn't be drawn into a debate about contentious refereeing decisions and instead said: 'I don't want to say too much about the referees, but the Mexican referees here are doing a great job. Perhaps they can do the final.'
Youch.
Last Group A team standing, Uruguay, takes on Ghana in the wee hours of Saturday.
