Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

We've been waiting a long, long time for that moment of magic - and guess who delivers?

It's a brilliant goal. You've got to say that Argentina haven't looked like scoring. It was going to be a moment of brilliance. Messi just hangs out, 30 yards from goal, when the ball's fed to him. He has time and space, takes a lovely left-footed touch to move the ball across his body and, with his second touch, hammers the ball on the bounce into the corner.

No chance for the goalkeeper. Messi makes his mark. Argentina in front.

Another change Argentina. Gonzalo Montiel and Lautaro Martínez go off.

Manchester City's Julian Alvarez and Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina come on.

This is a real scrap. You'd have thought Paulo Dybala and Julian Alvarez will be going through their warm-ups soon.

Guido Rodriguez is replaced by Enzo Fernandez for Argentina. The Benfica man unsurprisingly is considered a little more forward thinking.

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Listen to the jeers. It's fair to say that this Argentina team are just not on the same wavelength.

We're seeing a substitution and maybe a change of shape. Argentina have gone to a back four with Fernandez in that holding role in midfield.

The nerves must be jangling for the Argentina fans now. A defeat here would see Argentina out and a draw wouldn't exactly be ideal, with Poland to come.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

That was awful - it really was. Messi just clipped the free-kick straight over the bar, centrally.

I don't know how many offsides there will be this evening but this is like Sunday football at times with the offsides, as well.

You're talking about the elite level of football and, countless times, players are being lazy or not dropping in as the ball is being hit forward.

Daniel

Image source, Getty Images

Lots of whistles and tension as Lionel Messi gets over the ball...

But his free-kick is dreadful and drifts well over the top of the Mexico bar.

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

If Argentina don't get over the line this evening, that would be pretty incredible at the start of this group stage.

It looks like it's going to be a really tight game. That's when you have to be perfect and precise with your passing.

Lionel Messi picks up the ball and drives forward before a posse of Mexican players converge on him, led by Erick Gutierrez, who chops him down and collects a yellow card for his troubles.

Free-kick, well in Messi range.

Mexico averaged just above a goal a game in their qualifying campaign but have failed to score in their last three World Cup matches.

They have though never drawn a blank in four straight games at the tournament, with this their 59th fixture at the finals.

Get a feeling, they'd snap my hand off for just one goal this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

Back under way.

Don't see Gary Neville ever getting on to Lionel Messi's Christmas card list, do you?

Gary Neville and Roy Keane are far from impressed by what they've seen from Argentina in that first half.

Both are laying into the Argentine players over on ITV with Neville saying "is this what they are" and that "players aren't fearful of Lionel Messi anymore.".

He adds: "When a player of such stature has that demeanour it is so devastating for his team-mates."

Not the most exciting of halves.

Much of the play is happening in the middle of the park with Argentina enjoying the lion's share of the possession with 67.1%, but only managing one shot in that half to Mexico's two.

Image source, Opta

That's further evidenced here with the average positions of the players with Mexico forward Hirving Lozano (purple 22) managing to get the furthest forward for his side but Lionel Messi (black 10) struggling to much further than the half-way line.

Image source, Opta

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Mexico have done a job on Argentina. We talk about all the attacking talent Argentina have but the second half is absolutely enormous for Messi and co.

If they don't turn up in the second half, there's a massive likelihood they will be going home. It's not funny if you're an Argentina fan. They're playing with a real lack of urgency.

In fairness to Mexico, they're set up brilliantly. They've set up with a back three and three in midfield, making it so congested. Argentina had that one bit of joy at the end of the half, with the cross from Acuna after working it out wide, but that's not enough. The Mexicans are setting up for the counter-attack and they'll be happy. Argentina have to offer more.

Nothing in that first half that could be in any way described as a clear-cut chance for either side.

The combined total of four efforts on goal in the first half, is the lowest in a World Cup game since Netherlands v Argentina in 2014 (three). That match went to penalties.

Lionel Messi clearly the common denominator eh. Only joking.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Lusail Stadium

Mexico fans seem happier as the half-time whistle sounds and that will be because they have kept Lionel Messi on the margins and have more than held their own with Argentina.

The atmosphere inside Lusail Stadium is incredible but the game is a mess and the longer it goes on like this the more nervous Argentina will become.

Image source, Getty Images

Honours even. So far.