Poland vs Argentina: Messi and Lewandowski look to rally sides
Poland and Argentina will be aiming to book their spots in the round of 16 when they meet on matchday three of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Czesław Michniewicz’s side sit on top of Group C having drawn Mexico and beaten Saudi Arabia. That game saw Robert Lewandowski finally score his first ever World Cup goal, and the Eagles are in pole position to secure a knockout berth for the first time since 1986. Despite Lewandowski missing a crucial penalty that could’ve given his side a lead against Mexico, Poland have been quite solidly defensively, conceding zero goals from their first two games.
That being said, that record will come under massive strain when they face Argentina. To date, Poland have conceded at least one goal in all 11 meetings against the 2021 Copa America winners. This will be the first meeting between the two sides in over a decade, with Poland winning 2-1 back in June 2011. In terms of World Cups, Poland and Argentina have met twice prior. The first was in 1974, which ended 3-2 to Poland, followed by a subsequent meeting four years later that Argentina won 2-0 en route to winning the title.
A victory will be enough to give Lewandowski and his colleagues passage to the round of 16, albeit if they did draw, they could still progress provided that Saudi Arabia, who shocked the world with their 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia, fail to defeat Mexico. A loss, however, could see their World Cup dreams go up in smoke if Saudi Arabia win their final group stage encounter.
Meanwhile, Lionel Scaloni is still under intense pressure to get things right for Argentina. The 2021 Copa America winners were on a 36 unbeaten streak coming into this World Cup, with their last loss being to Brazil back in 2019. Many expected them to cruise to a comfortable win over Saudi Arabia, but the Green Falcons had other ideas as they came from a goal down to win that match 2-1.
Although Argentina bounced back to beat Mexico 2-0, they are not out of the woods just yet. La Albiceleste need to beat Poland in order to jump to the top of their group, and hope that Saudi Arabia also don’t do the same against Mexico as they will want to avoid facing the winner of Group D, which, for all intents and purposes, looks like it will be reigning World Cup champions France.
Les Bleus were the side to end Lionel Messi and his colleagues’ World Cup hopes four years ago after defeating them 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller during the round of 16, and with France looking quite solid so far as opposed to an Argentina side still yet to really kick into gear, they will want to face a slightly “easier” opponent in the next round.
Should Argentina draw with Poland, they could still qualify – but will need Mexico to beat Saudi Arabia. Hence, with nothing yet decided in Group C, both teams will naturally be gunning for all three points. Will Poland’s talisman Robert Lewandowski, now having finally scored his first World Cup goal, be able to inspire his side? Or will Messi, featuring in what is likely his last World Cup, step up and help carry his team over the finish line?
