Has minor classic exposed frailties?

Argentina v Mexico: Argentina secured passage to Berlin with a shot from Maxi Rodriguez that was heard around the world but Mexico also sent planet football a message: Argentina are fallible.

This was a minor classic of a match and the ebb and flow of the arguments afterwards mirrored the rhythm of play from 28 players utterly at ease with the ball in compressed space. Once it became clear early on that Mexico had brought a plan of action to the table and had the ability and energy to implement it, Argentina were in for a test.

There were issues with the officials, who gave Argentina two big decisions and Mexico one, and at the end of all that one other nagging query: in pushing Argentina so far, had Mexico revealed strengths or weaknesses? The answer is both.

Were it not for Mexico's refusal to accept the role allotted them, Argentina would not have gone into extra-time with their beat-that quartet of Messi-Riquelme-Tevez-Aimar on the pitch. Juan Roman Riquelme was the only one of those who started the game. Carlos Tevez and Pablo Aimar came on with 14 minutes of normal time remaining, Lionel Messi, on this 19th birthday, eight minutes later. The presence of the substitutes was a sign not just of physical and mental tiredness but also of Argentinian anxiety.

They were introduced by the coach, Jose Pekerman, because, having scored a 10th-minute equaliser through Hernan Crespo - "I swear I touched it, I swear," he said - and then delivered occasional threats for the next 50 minutes, Argentina were engaged in a beguiling stalemate with Mexico after that.

The Mexico captain, Rafael Marquez, had signalled their intent with a fifth-minute opener, peeling away from Gabriel Heinze at the far post to stab in Mario Mendez's flick. That both Mendez and Marquez were able to negotiate room in a packed penalty area will not have escaped Jurgen Klinsmann. Argentina can beat anyone going forward but after a season out through injury, Heinze looked rusty and his instability had a knock-on effect on Roberto Ayala and Lionel Scaloni. Klinsmann will want Heinze to play in Berlin.

Having been implicated in Mexico's goal, Heinze would later become central to their grievances. Four minutes after Marquez's strike Crespo and Jared Borgetti met Riquelme's corner at the near post. Borgetti's head made the greater contact, diverting the ball into his own net but Crespo celebrated as if he was the scorer.

Ricardo Osario was superb. He was matched by a newcomer Andres Guardado, who was inspired on the left of a non-stop midfield. Only an injury curtailed his night.

But Guardado was still on the pitch when Roberto Abbondanzieri rolled the ball out to Heinze as half-time approached. The ball eluded Heinze who chopped down Jose Fonseca as he scooped the ball past him. It was the most professional of fouls from Heinze. When Heinze then left a forearm out on Borgetti referee Massimo Busacca judged it accidental.

However, what Argentina possess, of course, is individual class. Messi and Tevez had an instant impact and on 90 minutes Riquelme slid the ball to Aimar who teed up Messi to score. To the naked eye Messi looked offside but he was not.

And then they had the winner. Collecting a pass from Juan Pablo Sorin on the edge of the box, Rodriguez trapped it on his chest and swivelled to hit a volley into the far corner. If Argentina had not already scored the goal of the tournament, this would have been a contender.

• Guardian Service