Argentina beats Poland, but both qualify in Group C of the Cup

Before the Qatar Cup, Lionel Messi announced that the World Cup would be the last of his career. This Wednesday (30), the dream of lifting the most important trophy in football before hanging up the boots gained life, with the Argentines’ victory over Poland, by 2-0, at the 974 Stadium, in Doha, for the third and last round of Group C. Argentina dominates Poland, wins and ranks first in the group! #FIFAWorld Cup pic.twitter.com/4VNcedCgsY — FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 30, 2022 The victory, full of authority, gave Argentina the tip of the key, with six points. Not bad for someone who debuted losing to Saudi Arabia by 2-1 and saw the end, surprisingly, of an undefeated series of 36 official matches. The Poles, with the same four points as Mexico, took the second place in the group for having a goal more than the Mexicans on balance. The European nation has not progressed beyond a World Cup since 1986. Messi’s presence has singled him out as the Argentine with the most appearances in World Cups. It was his 22nd game, surpassing none other than Diego Armando Maradona. If the South American team goes to the final and the star is on the field in the four duels until then, he will become the athlete who has played the most times in World Cups. The statistic has the German Lothar Matthäus as leader, with 25 participations. The commitments of both teams for the round of 16 will be this weekend. On Saturday (3), at 4 pm (Brasília time), Argentina will face Australia, at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, in Al Rayyan. On Sunday (4), at 12h, Poland will face France, current world champion. #Qatar2022⚽ @Argentina 🇦🇷 2 (Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez) 🆚 #Polonia 🇵🇱 0⏱ 30′ ST pic.twitter.com/DfIPKjlXkY — Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 30, 2022 Just like in victory by 2-0 against Mexico, Lionel Scaloni selected the Argentine national team with several changes. On the right wing, Nahuel Molina resumed the starting position in place of Gonzalo Montiel (hanging). At the back, Cristian Romero (1.85 meters) replaced Lisandro Martínez (1.75 meters), to face Robert Lewandowski (1.85 meters) at the top. In midfield, Guido Rodríguez (who took Leandro Paredes’ place against the Mexicans) left for Enzo Fernández. Finally, in the attack, Júlian Álvarez displaced Lautaro Martínez. On the Polish side, Czeslaw Michniewicz repeated almost the entire formation that beat Saudi Arabia by 2-0. The only change was in the attack, with Lewandowski alone in front and Karol Swiderski as a spearhead, in place of Arkadiusz Milik, who had been the partner of the striker from Barcelona (Spain) in the previous game. Szczęsny takes his second #FIFAWorldCup penalty! pic.twitter.com/SMfKj6mpTp — FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 30, 2022 The first half was an Argentine massacre over Poland. Led by Messi, the brothers finished 14 times, nine of them towards Wojciech Szczesny’s goal. At nine minutes, the Polish goalkeeper saved a cross kick from the star, in the area on the left. At 16, the number 10 launched Marcos Acuña on the left. The winger, in the area, took the right leg and sent it over the crossbar. At 27, Acuña had a new chance, in the spare of a submission by striker Julián Álvarez. The kick, from the edge of the area, went close to the left post. At 36 minutes, Álvarez received Alexis Mac Allister in the area and finished with a cross, for another defense by Szczesny. On the rebound, the Manchester City striker (England) crossed on the left and the goalkeeper ended up hitting Messi’s face in the area. With the help of the video referee (VAR), the penalty was awarded. The number 10 charged, but the archer threw himself into the left corner and saved a penalty for the second time in this Cup. Argentina’s pressure, which continued after the missed penalty, did not abate on the return of the break, with the difference that, finally, the net swung. Before the clock ran out of the first round, Molina received striker Ángel Di Maria on the right and crossed low for Mac Allister, a 23-year-old revelation, to put the South American team ahead. Alexis Mac Allister receives a cross and shoots low into the corner! One minute into the game and #ARG takes the lead! pic.twitter.com/ItKM8974qt — FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 30, 2022 Argentine hunger was not satisfied. With Messi multiplying ahead, the brothers continued renting the attacking field, prowling the area of ​​the Europeans, who did little to get rid of the pressure. A matter of time, the second goal came from the feet of two more promising youngsters. In the 22nd minute, Enzo Fernández, 21 years old, found Álvarez in the area. The 22-year-old striker hit Szczesny at the corner – who, three minutes later, avoided the third by saving Messi’s completion, after Enzo Fernández’s cross, from the left. Julián Álvarez scores a great goal and extends Argentina’s advantage! 🕷️#POL #ARG pic.twitter.com/uWX4QF0UQA — FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 30, 2022 Cornered, Poland seemed more concerned about avoiding another goal, which could cost them a place in the round of 16, but continued to give spaces to Argentina. In the 40th minute, striker Lautaro Martínez was launched by midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, entered the area on the right and crossed, close to the right post, in the last good chance of the match. After the final whistle, while the Argentine crowd celebrated, the tense Polish crowd turned their attention to the game between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, which was already in stoppage time. The Mexicans were leading 2-0 and were one goal away from qualifying, but it was the Saudis who scored the goals, with striker Salem Al-Dawsari. Despite the defeat, the Europeans celebrated their place in the round of 16.


Agência Brasil