There’s been plenty of moaning done about the World Cup so far but there can be few complaints about the entertainment on show yesterday.
Argentina produced arguably the performance of the tournament so far to dismantle South Korea and Mexico put France on the brink of an early exit.
Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick as Argentina saw off South Korea at Soccer City to all but book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
Higuain struck once in the first half and twice in quick succession after the break as Diego Maradona’s side made it two wins out of two in Group B and fired another warning that they are one of the teams to beat in South Africa.
It was the first World Cup hat-trick since Portugal’s Pauleta in 2002 and the first from an Argentine since Gabriel Batistuta in 1998.
Two second-half goals gave Mexico their first ever victory over France to leave El Tri well-placed to make the last 16 and the 2006 runners-up on the verge of elimination.
Mexico were the brighter of the two throughout but were unable to take any of their chances until just after the hour, when Manchester United-bound substitute Javier Hernandez broke the offside trap and rounded keeper Hugo Lloris before slotting home.
Another Mexican substitute, the 37-year-old Cuauhtemoc Blanco, sealed the victory from the penalty spot after Pablo Barrera had been felled in the box.
It leaves Mexico level at the top of Group A with Uruguay and a draw between those two sides in their final game in Rustenburg would put France out of the tournament.