Diego Maradona has refused to get carried away with the plaudits Argentina have been earning ahead of Sunday's World Cup clash with Mexico.

Argentina, along with Holland, were one of only two sides to progress through the group stages with a 100% record after defeating Nigeria, South Korea and Greece in Group B.

Their tally of seven goals scored was also equal-best with Portugal, who scored all theirs in one match, while only a couple of teams boast a better defensive record, with Maradona's side only conceding once.

It has been an impressive showing from the South American superpowers and their reward for finishing top of Group B is a last-16 clash with Mexico.

However, speaking ahead of that match in Johannesburg tomorrow, Maradona was again keen to temper the expectations surrounding his side, even though he did admit they were in "good shape".

"I keep on saying the others are the favourites. We're here to fight," he said. "We're in good shape, although of course there's always a few small things to solve within the squad.

"It's not easy to go from being nobody in your country and then going on to win three matches and stay focused.

"People were saying we were a disaster, we were the worst team they've ever seen, and now they are saying we are an excellent team, that this team is great on the pitch.

"We have the same players as before, so you shouldn't believe what everyone says, just go on working the same way you have been working with the same ideas."

There were plenty of question marks hanging over both Argentina and Maradona heading into the World Cup following a troubled qualifying campaign.

For a while the two-time world champions looked in serious danger of missing out on a place in South Africa, but back-to-back victories over Peru and Uruguay in their last two games earned them the fourth and final automatic qualifying berth in the South American section.

Maradona had come under heavy fire during qualifying, which saw him field more than 70 players, and he took a swipe at his critics after booking their place in the finals.

The former World Cup winner used today's press conference in Pretoria to fire another shot at the team's naysayers, although he also said he held no grudges. "I'm grown up, I'm 50 years old in October, I don't hold a grudge.

"But what makes me angry is when the lack of respect towards the players and when people don't know how to apologise for that.

"There are many players today who are being considered gods in Argentina and others who have been slaughtered by the press, and we simply want that these same journalists apologise to these players. "It's just a matter of being honest."

Looking ahead to tomorrow's clash with Mexico, Maradona has faith his side can progress through to the quarter-finals but insists they will not be treating Mexico lightly.

"Mexico are a team who you need to respect, and we are going to do that. But they should also respect us and our history," he said.

"Mexico have a number of players who concern us. But we have our match to play, we have our players to field.

"We know the match is going to be tough but with the team we have and the players we have we can move forward.

"The present situation is great because we've fulfilled our duty to win the first matches and from here on we start building physically and mentally for the next step."

Argentina, who beat Mexico 2-1 after extra-time at the same stage of the 2006 World Cup before losing to Germany in the quarter-finals, look set to be without centre-back Walter Samuel for tomorrow's game due to injury.

If the Inter Milan defender does not make it, then Nicolas Burdisso is likely to retain his place in the starting line-up.