Argentina top group
Argentina overcame Poland 2-0 on Wednesday in the final day of Group C at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, a must-win win to advance to the last 16 and go through as group winners, thanks to second-half goals from Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez, while the Poles were a miracle qualifier.
Argentina to face Australia
The double world champions completed their comeback by also beating Mexico to book a last-16 meeting with Australia. Szczesny saved a penalty from Messi and held Poland in the first half, but the South Americans’ goals came in the second.
Poland went through on goal difference
Poland played with the calculator, at the mercy of not conceding any more goals and Mexico going down 2-0 to Saudi Arabia, to get back into the world’s top 16 as they had not done since 1986 on two yellow cards. In stoppage time ‘El Tri’ conceded and Poland went through on goal difference.
Argentina laid siege to Poland
Agony once again accompanied one of the candidates. Argentina laid siege to Poland in the first half, with more or less insistence, but with plenty of chances to have gone to the dressing room much calmer. Szczesny was crowned the goalkeeper of the World Cup so far when in the 39th minute he saved a penalty from the ’10’.
Second penalty saved in Qatar
The PSG player had forced the penalty from the Juventus goalkeeper, who came out of time and hit his opponent in the face after heading the ball wide. A second penalty save in Qatar and another 45 minutes of brilliance to remain unbeaten. Poland lost a lot of balls at the start and seemed to decide not to come out.
Argentinian chances
The first half was played in the Polish half, with Scaloni’s team insisting on the left flank. Acuña struggled to find the target but his crosses and shots ended up being dangerous. Di María also generated, on both flanks, and Julián Álvarez, the novelty in the Argentine eleven, had two very clear chances in front of the Polish hero.
0-1 by Mac Allister
Szczesny also saved an Olympic goal from Di Maria and, before the break, that penalty was awarded by the referee after a VAR warning. Messi’s face and that of all the Argentinians changed in less than a minute of the second half, the same time it took for Mac Allister to make it 1-0 after Molina had played in on the right flank.
Poland tried to hold on
Brighton’s Brighton man hit it hard and across the face of goal, impossible for any more miracles from the opposition goalkeeper, while Saudi Arabia-Mexico also opened the scoring with two goals in quick succession from ‘El Tri’. Kamil Glik had Poland’s only chance, a header narrowly wide, but Poland tried not to upset their opponents and held on.
Heart-stopping level
A Julián Álvarez goal made it even more difficult, at heart-stopping level, with 20 minutes to go. Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side found themselves at a loss as to what to do: attack or defend. At 2-0 up, Poland were through to the last 16 because they had fewer yellow cards than the Mexicans, but in the other game the Americans’ chances came and went, and in theirs, Argentina’s third seemed to be on the cards.
Poland to face France
Messi, looking to forget the penalty, had another clear chance, as did Julian Alvarez again and the newly introduced Lautaro Martinez and Tagliafico. The Polish coach even took off Krychowiak in case he was sent off after a yellow. Argentina complied, avoided France, and Poland finally met the French by a goal to Mexico’s 1-2 Saudi 1-2 in the 95th minute.
