- Argentina beat Poland 2-0 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – and both teams are in the round of 16.
- Argentina, winners of Group C, meet Australia on Saturday.
- Poland, who still have doubts about participation after the final whistle, will face France on Sunday.
- In the second game of Group C, Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.
The match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 was already over. The Europeans lost 2-0 – and had to wait because the game between Mexico and Saudi Arabia was still going on in Lusail. At this point it was 2:0 for Mexico, the fair play rating would have decided Poland thanks to 5:7 yellow cards. Only a goal from Mexico that pressed would have sent the Central Americans to the round of 16.
But it was Saudi Arabia who scored the final goal of the game. The 1:2 brought great relief and happy faces to the Poles, who no longer had to tremble about their participation in the round of 16.
Tagliafico almost spoilsport
Argentina almost sealed the end of Poland in the 3rd minute of added time. Substitute full-back Nicolas Tagliafico was on his feet to make it 3-0, but centre-back Jakub Kiwior headed in front of the goal line. If the Mexicans had known that the Poles had lost 3-0, they would not have acted so offensively in the closing stages – and probably wouldn’t have conceded the 1-2 either.
The goals for a pressingly superior Argentina had only come in the 2nd half:
- 46 minutes: Barely back from the catacombs, Wojciech Szczesny’s box rang. Alexis Mac Allister converts a cross from Nahuel Molina.
- 67 minutes: This goal calms Argentina. Enzo Fernandez puts through to Julian Alvarez, who swings the ball into the right angle.
After the reassuring 2-0 lead, Argentina could hardly take their ticket to the round of 16. Speaking of Fernandez, the Benfica player, aged 21 years and 317 days, is the youngest player in an Argentina starting XI at a World Cup since 2006, when a certain Lionel Messi started 3 days before his 19th birthday.
Messi vs Szczesny
And speaking of Messi: The excitement of the first half was Messi’s private duel against Szczesny. In the 36th minute, the Polish goalie hit the Argentinian superstar with his hand in the face while attempting to clear. Referee Danny Makkelie is summoned to the screen by VAR – and actually gives a penalty there. Point for the Argentinian number 10, who of course immediately started himself. Szczesny didn’t want to give up in this feud and saved Messi’s attempt 3 minutes after the foul. Compensation in a private duel, the 0:0 remained.
Argentina would have deserved the lead at that point without hesitation. Nicolas Otamendi (3′), Messi (7’/10′), Marcos Acuna (17’/19′) and Alvarez (28′) all had chances, but Szczesny’s goal wasn’t ready at that point. Luckily for Poland: one more goal would have meant the end of the group phase.
Here’s how to proceed
Argentina will meet Australia in the round of 16 on Saturday (8:00 p.m.). Poland plays France the next day (4:00 p.m.).