Sour Grapes on Mexican Post-Match Menu

Mexico's fine run in Germany came to a bitter end in Hanover on Sunday when, in an ill-tempered match, Argentina set up a dream final with Brazil in Frankfurt on Wednesday after a 6-5 penalty shoot-out win.

But Lavolpe believes referee Roberto Rossetti was in part to blame for his team's demise. In particular he questioned the Italian's decision not to red card Argentina's Fabricio Coloccini after a horror tackle on Ramon Morales in the 70th minute. Morales had to be stretchered off in agony and following the incident boos rang round the stadium every time Coloccini touched the ball.

"At this level of competition above football there is finance and the thinking that the final must be disputed by certain teams," Lavolpe said. "Colocchini should have been sent off for a terrible foul, that's beyond dispute, because he was obviously playing the man."

Soccer superpowers more equal than others

"The superpowers are always at an advantage in this sort of situation, whilst the sport would like everyone to be treated equally," added the Argentina-born coach after seeing Mexico's 22-match unbeaten run was stopped by the South Americans.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman was understandably taking an opposing view of Rossetti's performance.

"I don't want to go into this but as far as I'm concerned the referee performed to the rules and I trust the decisions he took on the pitch," he told the post-match press conference.

Lavolpe's frustration was tempered by what he saw as a positive display by his CONCACAF champions with Carlos Salcido handing them the lead in the 14th minute of extra time only for Luciano Figueroa to level, with Argentina going on to win 6-5 on penalties.

"We showed good ball control," Lavolpe said. "The difference was in the individual Argentine players, as we were better as a team."

Marquez loss cost Mexico dearly, says Lavolpe

In the dying moments of normal time both teams were reduced to ten men with first Argentina striker Javier Saviola red carded for an injudicious tackle on Gonzalo Pineda, followed by influential defender Rafael Marquez' expulsion for a second yellow card.

"Marquez's sending off hurt us badly, with him off the pitch our defense found it hard to withstand Argentina," Lavolpe said. "And it's tough when you're 1-0 up then the other side gets an equalizer, we had to work hard to hold off Argentina. On top of that we were getting tired."

Positive signs for World Cup 2006

Lavolpe and Mexico head home to prepare for the final push towards qualifying for Germany next year with the satisfaction of having beaten Japan and Brazil in the group stages.

But the latter stages of their Confed Cup campaign was overshadowed by the expulsion of two key players -- Aaron Galindo and Salvador Carmona -- on suspicion of having taken the banned steroid nandrolene.