GOETTINGEN, Germany -- Mexico came into the World Cup promising its best showing ever. Now, the same team that arrived in Germany dreaming of its first semifinal berth just hopes to avoid a fourth straight second-round loss.

And the way things have gone recently, it won't be easy -- especially with Argentina, suddenly a strong candidate to make the championship match, awaiting El Tri on Saturday in Leipzig.

And the same fans who were singing the team's praises less than two weeks ago are now whistling their disapproval, cursing the coach and chanting the name of a controversial star who isn't even on the roster.

"It really hurt to hear our own fans boo us," captain Rafael Marquez said.

But after backing into the round of 16, Mexico's players believe they can turn things around in time.

"Now is the time to remain calm," goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez said after Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Portugal in the Group D finale. "We have to concentrate on the next round."

Sanchez, his defense and the midfield have been mostly solid through the first three games. Mexico's offense, though, started with a splash but has blown one scoring opportunity after another since then.

The low point came in the second half Wednesday, when Omar Bravo blasted a penalty kick over the bar. Minutes later, he had a 1-on-1 against Portuguese keeper Ricardo but fired wide right.

"We have the same problem," coach Ricardo Lavolpe said. "We're creating chances but we're not converting them."

Some of Mexico's fans believe America forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a member of Mexico's World Cup teams in 1998 and 2002 but snubbed this time by Lavolpe, would have been just what the team needed up front.

After Wednesday's loss, several hundred fans chanted Blanco's name -- in between hurling abuse at Lavolpe.

Blanco isn't an option, though, and veteran Jared Borgetti has turned into a question mark.

Borgetti, Mexico's leading career scorer, hasn't played since tearing a muscle in his left thigh in the second half of the team's opener against Iran. He is expected to be able to play Saturday.

But even if he can't come back against Argentina, Mexico could still regain its scoring form if several things happen.

Francisco Fonseca, who scored Mexico's only goal against Portugal, has shown he can create chances. If Kikin keeps his starting job, and Bravo regains the form he showed in his two-goal performance against Iran, the combination of Fonseca's footwork and Bravo's speed could cause problems for Argentina's defense.

If Borgetti is healthy, he could once again be the focal point in a three-forward attack. And Antonio Naelson, the Brazilian-born attacking midfielder better known as Zinha, has provided an offensive spark at times -- although his lack of size means defenders can muscle him off the ball.

Mexico can also draw some inspiration from the way it pulled together in the second half against Portugal, after defender Luis Perez was sent off with 30 minutes still to play. His ejection means he will miss Saturday's game.

"In the next game, we have to stick to the level of concentration that we had in the second half," midfielder Pavel Pardo said.

Lavolpe believes his team can do it, even against Argentina.

"Our team has been under pressure for 3 1/2 years," he said. "From Saturday, we start from zero. There are no advantages. I think it will suit us."

And if not, Mexico will have a long plane ride home to wonder what might have been.