Mexico return home with reason for optimism

LEIPZIG, June 25 (Reuters) Mexican coach Ricardo La Volpe and his players said they had really felt this World Cup finals was their best opportunity yet for glory at the highest level but their chance had been scuppered by a moment of inspiration.

With Argentina and Mexico locked at 1-1 in extra time in their second-round clash yesterday, Maxi Rodriguez controlled a cross-field pass on his chest and thumped a stinging 25-yard volley into the top corner to give the South Americans victory.

It was the fourth consecutive World Cup finals in which Mexico had failed to advance beyond the second round, having lost to the United States at the same stage in 2002 and Germany and Bulgaria in the previous two tournaments.

''This team wanted to go further and we had what it takes to do that,'' said Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. ''The game was always going to be decided by a mistake or a wonder goal, and that's what happened.'' Mexico, quarter-finalists on home soil in 1970 and 1986, began their World Cup campaign in Germany well, beating Iran 3-1. But they only managed a 0-0 draw against Angola in their second match and then lost 2-1 to a Portugal side missing most of their first-choice players.

They more than held their own in Leipzig on Saturday against an Argentina team that had scored eight goals in their three first-round ties, and they took a deserved lead through captain Rafael Marquez in the sixth minute.

WIPED OUT The advantage was wiped out four minutes later by a Jared Borgetti own goal, cruel luck for Mexico's all-time leading scorer, and Rodriguez's moment of brilliance in the first period of injury time decided matters.

''Mexico played as well as Argentina and we deserved more,'' midfielder Pavel Pardo said. ''It's a shame because the team had shown in this World Cup that we were ready to go far.'' La Volpe, who is from Argentina but ended his playing days as a goalkeeper in Mexico, said his side had had a chance to make history in Germany.

''Once again, though, we did not achieve what we came to do, which was to reach the quarter-finals at least,'' he told reporters.

''I am very proud, however, of the way we played and the group that we have created,'' he added. ''We will continue our work I'm sure and many of the players will still be around for the finals in 2010.'' Reuters PM BD1502