Highlights from Poland vs Argentina Group C, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: 2nd-half goals send Lionel Messi’s team to the World Cup round of 16. Poland advanced to the last 16 on goal differential over Mexico.
Poland vs Argentina
Poland vs Argentina Highlights
Argentina Strom advanced to the Round of 16 with a dominant second-half performance. In the first half, Leo Messi’s penalty has saved. On the other hand, Alexis MacAllister and Julian Alvarez scored for the Albiceleste.
Argentina advances to the next Round after finishing first in Group C, where they will face Australia. Poland has joined Messi and the team after narrowly defeating Mexico.
Argentina advanced to the World Cup knockout stages 2-0 win over Poland on Wednesday in their final Group C match, despite captain Lionel Messi having a penalty saved in the first half.
Argentina’s Triumph advances the South American side to lead the group & In the Round of 16, they will face Australia, while Poland will face reigning champions France.
Argentina took the lead just 1 minute into the 2nd half when Alexis Mac Allister got at the end of Nahuel Molina’s cross and saw his shot sneak against the line with Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny beat.
Argentina had dominated possession, and Poland had barely managed to get out of their half when they scored.
Argentina knocked the ball around for a few minutes prior to Enzo Fernandez freeing the defense with a through-ball for Julian Alvarez, who got space in the box & smashed it into the top corner.
Szczesny, on the other hand, was up to the task. Even though thousands of Argentina fans were raising the decibel levels within the arena, he kept his cool & guessed correctly, diving to his left and swatting Messi’s effort away with one hand.
Szczesny had been kept busy throughout the first half, with the Polish defense repeatedly breached. Still, The Juventus goalkeeper resisted the Argentines, who grew more confident with each attack.
When Manchester City’s Alvarez broke through the offside trap, he denied him, then rolled Angel Di Maria’s cross against the bar when his Juve teammate tried to score directly from a corner kick.
But he couldn’t help but scramble when Mac Allister took his shot before Poland could settle down after the restart, and Alvarez’s second-goal shot was too good for any keeper.
Argentina turn on the style to finish top of Group C!@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022
How Argentina Defeated Poland
Argentina dominated the game from the start, with Messi forcing a smart save from Szczesny with a solid early effort, clearly determined to build on his match-winning performance against Mexico following the shock loss to Saudi Arabia.
Argentina’s main creative outlet, too, with the 35-year-old popping up in midfield and repeatedly picking out teammates in dangerous positions, only for the finish to be lacking.
🇵🇱 Lewandowski vs Messi 🇦🇷
A battle between the current and former #TheBest winners! 🤩
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022
What does the result mean?
Argentina wins Group C with six points from three games. In comparison, Poland finishes runners-up with four points, advancing Mexico, which joins Saudi Arabia in exiting the competition on goal difference.
Argentina will now face Group D runners-up Australia in their last 16 matches on Saturday at 7 pm, while Poland will face Group D winners France on Sunday at 3 pm.
Poland Ride Their Luck As Argentina Shines
Argentina had regained control and now looked much more like the formidable unit tipped as one of the favorites to lift the famous trophy.
After suffering one of the most significant defeats in World Cup history, they lost to Saudi Arabia in their opening match.
If they can replicate this form against Australia on Saturday, they should have no trouble knocking out Graham Arnold’s side & progressing to the last-eight, where they could potentially face the Netherlands.
Poland has gotten by the skin of its teeth. They had nothing offensive to offer, with Robert Lewandowski cutting a frustrated, isolated figure up front. On another night, they could have lost by four or five points and has out of the tournament. In reality, Poland has offered little in Qatar thus far and will need to improve if they are to trouble France significantly.
Poland vs Argentina | Player Ratings | FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar
Argentina: Martinez 6, Romero 6, Otamendi 6, Molina 7, De Paul 6, Acuna 7, Mac Allister 8, Fernandez 7, Di Maria 6, Alvarez 7, Messi 9
Subs: Parades 6, Tagliafico 6, Pezzella 5, Lautaro Martinez 5, Almada N/A
Poland: Szczesny 8, Glik 5, Kiwior 6, Cash 6, Bereszynski 5, Krychowiak 5, Zielinski 5, Bielik 5, Frankowski 4, Swiderski 4, Lewandowski 5
Subs: Kaminski 5, Skoras 5, Szymanski 5, Jedrzejczyk 5, Piatek N/A
Poland – Argentina | Match Report | FIFA World Cup 2022
Is that a punishment? The referee is going to check the monitor. The foul is called when the referee points to the spot.
Poland vs Argentina | Key Stats | FIFA World Cup 2022
Poland vs Argentina | Full Squads | FIFA World Cup 2022
Poland vs Argentina | Man of The Match – Alexis Mac Allister
Carlos Allister, Mac Allister’s father, played with Argentina legend Diego Maradona at Boca Juniors. Now, his son, Brighton playmaker Alexis, is following in his father’s footsteps by playing alongside the best in the country, albeit on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup, alongside Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi had his penalty saved in the 1st half. However, Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez coordinated to score for the Albiceleste. Argentina heads into the next Round by leading Group C, where they will face Australia.
😍 Imagine scoring your first ever international goal at the #FIFAWorldCup
Alexis Mac Allister seals top spot for Argentina and earns himself the @Budweiser Player of the Match award.
🇵🇱 #POLARG 🇦🇷 #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud pic.twitter.com/1JFwj9u6d9
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022
Messi gets compelled by destiny
Messi gets propelled by destiny. Lionel Messi failed to score. Despite having seven shots on goal, one was a penalty brilliantly saved by Wojciech Szczesny. But this performance suggested he may be destined to lead Argentina to the ultimate prize.
The 35-year-old, fresh off a sensational long-range strike that helped Lionel Scaloni’s side defeat Mexico in their previous game, put in his best tournament performance, the missed spot kick a blot that ultimately did not matter.
The question now is whether, at 35, he has reached the pinnacle of his extraordinary career. Argentina’s team is flawed in numerous ways. They do, however, have Messi. They are serious contenders with him in this kind of mood, fuelled by an irresistible sense of destiny.
Day 11 | Other Highlights | FIFA World Cup 2022