Poland 0-2 Argentina
Argentina are through to the World Cup 2022 Round of 16 thanks to a comfortable victory over Poland at Stadium 974, and the defeated Poles have squeezed through to the knockout phase too, on goal difference.
After Argentina totally dominated the first half, Lionel Messi seeing a penalty saved, Alexis MacAllister scored a minute after half time and Julian Alvarez doubled the lead with a brilliant strike to confirm top spot in Group C. Here at SBOTOP we billed this game as a meeting of two legendary strikers, and while Messi inspired much of Argentina’s attacking play, Robert Lewandowski cut a lonely figure in the Poland attack as his team clung on for dear life.
Poland finished joint second with Mexico, on four points, but with a better goal difference of just one.
Highlights of the game
The early Group C World Cup 2022 results left Argentina needing a win to be sure of progressing to the knockout phase while Poland just required a draw, though the incentive of winning the group was a big one with Australia waiting in the Round of 16, while the second placed Group D team would face France.
And it was Argentina who came out of the blocks quickly, Messi twice testing Wojciech Szczesny in the first ten minutes, the second time with a fierce shot to the near post. Argentina’s skipper was dictating play and twice found Marcos Acuna with diagonal balls but the wingback failed to cash in on both occasions. And, on 28 minutes the Albiceleste almost broke through when Alvarez’ shot was blocked and Acuna followed up with a rasping drive which flew just past the right hand post.
Alvarez broke through and forced a great save from Szczesny and when the loose ball was crossed back into the danger zone Messi headed over. But, as happens so often, VAR had a close look at the action and judged that the Poland keeper’s hand had made contact with Messi and the referee pointed to the spot. It looked harsh, but maybe justice was done when Szczesny made a brilliant save to stop Messi’s well struck spot kick.
It was the Poland stopper’s second penalty save of the competition after thwarting Saudi Arabia; and the keeper was in action again soon to stop a good effort from Alvarez in the last action of the first half.
The first action of the second half brought Argentina’s desperately sought after breakthrough and it was a fine goal which caught Poland on the hop, just a minute after the restart. Nahuel Molina burst down the right flank and pulled the ball back to MacAllister who steered the ball low into the bottom left corner to send the Argentina fans wild. They briefly went quiet, a minute later, when Poland centre back Kamil Glik planted a header inches wide, and then they started chanting again!
Any lingering doubt began to dissipate when Argentina doubled their lead as Alvarez took a ball from Enzo Fernandez, turned and hit a beautiful strike into the top right corner. As Argentina piled on the pressure Messi had a great chance to make it three but Szczesny denied the maestro again, before Alvarez hammered a shot into the side netting when he was clean through.
Substitute Lautaro Martinez latched on to a shocking Poland back pass but, as the whole crowd expected the net to bulge, he screwed his effort wide…and that meant Lewandowski will join Messi in the Round of 16.
Key statistics
Argentina were third favourites to win the competition according to the World Cup 2022 betting odds and in the first half they were totally dominant as they looked to assert their authority. With 65 per cent possession, 12 shots to two and seven to nil on target it was something of a mystery as to how they hadn’t scored.
The Albiceleste put that right a minute after half time and, with 12 shots to nil on target by the finish they were well worth their 2-0 victory.
Messi missed the chance to score in seven successive internationals, while Poland have made the Round of 16 for the fist time since 1986.
It’s a funny old game!
What’s next?
So Argentina finished top of Group C and will be red hot favourites to make the quarter finals when they face Australia in the Round of 16, while Poland face France. After tonight’s drama which Argentina coped with superbly, there are two more giants of world football at risk of crashing out at the group stage as Germany face Costa Rica, needing a win to stay in the competition, and Belgium need to beat 2018 finalists Croatia to clear their own passage to the knockout stage. The Red Devils have been particularly disappointing, squeezing past Canada and losing to Morocco so far and they are in real danger.
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