LIONEL MESSI said Argentina is ready to “start over again” after resuscitating its FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday.

The two-time world champion, which lost its opening match against Saudi Arabia 2-1, will be guaranteed of a place in the last 16 if the side beats Poland on Wednesday.

“We didn’t expect to lose the first match and the days leading up to this one were long,” Messi said. “We wanted to have the opportunity to change the situation.

“We knew that if we didn’t win today we would be out and that if we won [our destiny] would depend on us. Luckily we were able to win and that makes us very happy. It’s a weight off our shoulders and we can start over again against Poland.”

Messi set the team on course for victory with a low 25-meter strike and he then provided the final pass for Enzo Fernandez to curl in a second goal.

“The first half was difficult because of the way they defended,” the Argentina captain said. “We weren’t able to find space and didn’t move the ball the way we wanted to.”

“In the second half we managed to have more possession and found space between the lines. We started to get the ball closer to the penalty area and to play our normal game.”

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni lavished praise on Messi. “We got through a difficult period in the first half ... and the game changed,” Scaloni said. “That wasn’t because of the substitutions. It was because we have good players and we have Leo, and that’s what’s important.”

(Xinhua)