updated 6:21 p.m. ET June 23, 2006

LEIPZIG, Germany - Brazil may be the defending champion, but Argentina has been the most dominant South American team at the World Cup.

The Argentinians look to maintain their top form and move a step closer to their third World Cup title Saturday when they play Mexico in a second-round match at Leipzig, Germany.

Argentina claimed seven of nine possible points in Group C, considered one of the most difficult at the World Cup. Jose Pekerman’s team clinched first place in the group with a scoreless draw Wednesday against the Netherlands that highlighted his team’s depth. The squad’s reserve strikers, 18-year-old Leo Messi and Carlos Tevez, carried the run of play and created multiple scoring chances.

“The only thing we lacked were goals,” said the 22-year-old Tevez, who played the entire match. “We did everything right and for some reason we were unable to score.”

The tie, though, did little to dampen the enthusiasm surrounding Argentina, the talk of Germany after its 6-0 rout of Serbia-Montenegro last Friday that saw an overpowering performance in all facets of the game.

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As good as that victory was, the Argentines know such a performance likely will not be duplicated in the knockout round.

“We are aware that all of our games won’t be like Serbia,” defender Roberto Ayala said.

Lost in the goal scoring by Messi, Tevez, Maxi Rodriguez, Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola has been the standout play of midfielder Juan Riquelme. While Riquelme had only two assists in the three matches, he is the distribution center of Argentina’s offense and has been instrumental in helping retain possession and maintain pressure on opponents.

Crespo and Saviola, who had three of Argentina’s goals in Group C play, are expected return to the starting lineup Saturday after being held out Wednesday to make sure neither would pick up a second yellow card and miss the upcoming match due to suspension.

This Argentinian team may rival the World Cup-winning squads of 1978 and 1986. Legendary midfielder Diego Maradona, who led the 1986 team with five goals including his “Hand of God” goal in the quarterfinals against England, has become the team’s most visible cheerleader and was a frequent guest of Pekerman’s in the locker room during group play.

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Mexico — the lone CONCACAF team remaining — is in the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup, but has not been to the quarterfinals since serving as host in 1986. The seeded team in Group D, the Mexicans struggled in their last two matches, first a scoreless draw against Angola last Friday before a 2-1 loss Wednesday to Portugal, which rested four key starters.

Forward Omar Bravo scored twice in a 3-1 win over Iran on June 11, but missed a penalty kick against Portugal. Minutes earlier, he missed an opportunity to score in a 1-on-1 situation with Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo.

“We have the same problem,” Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe said. “We’re creating chances but we’re not converting them.”

Some of the restless Mexican fan base would argue Lavolpe created this problem by not putting forward Cuauthemoc Blanco on the World Cup roster. Lavolpe also didn’t have starting striker Jared Borgetti for the last two matches after he suffered a partially torn thigh muscle against Iran.

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Borgetti is expected to be available to play Saturday, but Jose Fonseca — who scored in the 29th minute against Portugal — likely will start up front with Bravo. Fonseca took seven shots in the three games, placing four on goal. Lavolpe can also use the Brazilian-born Zinha in the midfield for a more aggressive offense.

Mexico midfielder Luis Perez will not be available Saturday after being issued a red card Wednesday.

Argentina won the only World Cup match between the teams, 6-3 in group play in the first World Cup in 1930. The Argentinians won on penalty kicks in the last meeting between the teams in the semifinals of the 2005 Confederations Cup.

Saturday’s winner will play Germany or Sweden in the quarterfinals June 30 in Berlin.   (PROFILE

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