Argentina recovered from opening day disaster to head to the top of Group C and into a last 16 tie with Australia as they condemned a sorry Poland to defeat at Stadium 974.
The Albiceleste came into the game needing three points to ensure that they headed through, while a draw would have been enough to see Poland over the line.
And it was the Argentines that understandably looked the more positive and proactive on the ball, with Lionel Messi and Angel di Maria both seeing efforts saved by Szczesny.
The Albiceleste were even given a golden opportunity to take the lead, and control of the game, when the Polish no.1 was deemed to have fouled Messi while coming for a cross, and a VAR review handing Messi the chance to open the scoring from the spot.
However, Szczesny redeemed himself, flinging himself to his left to keep out the Argentine magician’s strike, and sending the two sides into the half time break level at 0-0 despite the Argentinian pressure mounting.
MESSI’S PENALTY IS SAVED!
Wojciech Szczesny has saved his second spot-kick of the tournament 🤯🔥 Wow.#BBCWorldCup #FIFAWorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/GolmxSmbrM
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 30, 2022
Poland’s resistance was broken just moments into the second half, however, as Nahuel Montiel’s cross was turned home by Brighton midfielder Alexis MacAllister, putting Argentina on course to top Group C and set up a clash with Australia.
But eventually, Argentina’s dominance told once again, with Julian Alvarez smashing a second past a helpless Szczesny and leave the Poles one goal away from going out.
Wow. As it stands, Mexico will go out because of their disciplinary record! 🤯
They have seven yellow cards to Poland’s four.#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/9ejQjMw8H7
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 30, 2022
Lionel Messi and Nicolas Tagliafico both spurned glorious chances to add a third before the fulltime whistle, but Poland clung on to a result that saw them scrape through by virtue of having picked up fewer yellow cards than Mexico.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Poland
- GK: Wojciech Szczesny (8)- Saved Messi’s penalty well and was unlucky to concede twice. Could do nothing about either.
- RB: Matty Cash (6) – Defended well enough but had no chance to get forward.
- CB: Kamil Glik (5) – Struggled against the livewire of Alvarez.
- CB: Jakub Kiwior (6) – Solid enough and made an excellent goal-line clearance to keep qualification hopes alive.
- LB: Bartosz Bereszynski (5) – Really struggled against Argentina’s right-hand side.
- RM: Piotr Zielinski (5) – Was moved around the pitch plenty but didn’t have much influence anywhere.
- CM: Krystian Bielek (6) – Worked hard but was chasing shadows for much of the match. Substituted after an hour.
- CM: Gregor Krychowiak (5) – Struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.
- LM: Jakub Frankowski (4) – Didn’t offer a great deal of support for his left back as Angel di Maria threatened and was taken off before the second half.
- ST: Karol Swiderski (4) – Managed just 7 passes in the first half and never really looked a threat. Hooked at half-time.
- ST: Robert Lewandowski (4) – Could only watch as his team were utterly dominated. Didn’t even get a sniff at goal.
Substitutes
- Jakub Kaminski (4) – Could do absolutely nothing when he came on.
- Michal Skoras (5) – Ran a lot without being particularly effective.
- Damian Szymanski (4) – Had no impact on the affair.
- Krystof Piatek (5) – Was left chasing shadows.
Argentina
- GK: Emiliano Martinez (6) – Barely touched the ball.
- RB: Nahuel Molina (7) – Found a great pass for the opener and was a constant threat down the right.
- CB: Nicolas Otamendi (6) – Helped keep Lewandowski quiet but in truth had very little to do.
- CB: Cristian Romero (6)- Brought the ball out of defence well.
- LB: Marcos Acuna (5) – Got forward and went close with one effort but never really looked like troubling the Polish defence too much.
- CM: Enzo Fernandes (8) – Brought some much-needed balance to Lionel Scaloni’s lineup. Will almost certainly start against Australia.
- CM: Rodrigo De Paul (7) – Looked off the pace in the first half but grew into the second.
- CM: Alexis MacAllister (8) – Took his goal well before wasting a second glorious chance. Worked hard off the ball and was tidy on it.
- RW: Angel Di Maria (7) – Probably Argentina’s brightest spark in the first half, he ran his opposing fullback ragged until he was taken off on the hour.
- ST: Lionel Messi (8) – Remained thoroughly influential in the game without seeming to break into a sweat. Will be glad his missed penalty proved incidental in the end.
- LW: Julian Alvarez (7) – Took his goal well and was a threat on the night. Will feel that he could have had one or two more.
Substitutes
- Leandro Paredes (6) – Recycled possession well.
- Nicolas Tagliafico (6) – Solid but didn’t see too much action upon coming on.
- Gonzalo Pezzala (6) – Had very little to do when he came on.
- Lautaro Martinez (5) – Missed a glorious chance to put Poland out when he fired wide five minutes from time.
- Thiago Almada (6) –
Key Stats:
2 – Wojciech Szczesny is only the second goalkeeper on record (since 1966) to save a penalty at the World Cup after conceding it himself, after Joel Bats for France against Brazil in 1986. Forgiven. #POLARG pic.twitter.com/vSx7ZQnTQT
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 30, 2022
Lionel Messi is the first player in HISTORY to have 2 penalties saved in the World Cup 😱 pic.twitter.com/LcdbaVtco7
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 30, 2022
21 – Enzo Fernández (21y 317d) is set to become the youngest player to start a #FIFAWorldCup game for Argentina since Lionel Messi vs Netherlands in 2006 (18y 362d). Generation. pic.twitter.com/48ZjKmmruT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2022
1 – Rodrigo De Paul completed 137 passes in the match against Poland 🇵🇱 (145 passes attempted), the most by an Argentina 🇦🇷 player in a World Cup game since at least 1966. Confidence. pic.twitter.com/dEo0ggP8cV
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 30, 2022
Argentina are the third team to lose their first match and top their World Cup group in the three-point era:
-Spain 2010
-Colombia 2018
-Argentina 2022
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) November 30, 2022
Expert Analysis:
Lewandowski has been completely isolated from his team-mates tonight. They’ve been poles apart.
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) November 30, 2022
This is the Argentina I was a little scared of pre-tournament. Introduction of Enzo Fernandez has clearly helped restore some balance to that midfield, and now we’re getting a taste of those wonderful attacking patterns of play
— 𝔼𝕌ℝ𝕆 (@EuroExpert_) November 30, 2022
Playing number 9 in this Argentina team not easy, esp connecting with those behind.
Lautaro completed 3 passes in 62 mins v Mexico. Julian Alvarez just 1 in the first 20 mins today.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) November 30, 2022
Christ is Marcos Acuna good at anything?
— 𝔼𝕌ℝ𝕆 (@EuroExpert_) November 30, 2022
Argentina don’t seem to really know what to do with the final ball if they can’t get it to Messi. A lot of hit-and-hope crosses.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) November 30, 2022
That’s an absolutely disgraceful decision. Worst of the tournament.
Messi’s behaviour not great. https://t.co/bpHC1ndbiD
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) November 30, 2022
Alvarez is an absolute game-changer for Argentina.
Needs to start at all times going forward.
What a player.
— Domagoj Kostanjšak (@DKostanjsak) November 30, 2022
Fan Reaction:
The irony of FIFA deciding anything on fair play
— Max Rushden 💛🖤 (@maxrushden) November 30, 2022
Here is what VAR saw… the slow mos and stills make the contact to Messi’s face look far heavier than it was. A poor decision to award a penalty and justice done. pic.twitter.com/36idJCAtYk
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) November 30, 2022
De Paul is not having a good tournament at all, so sloppy.
— James. (@afcjxmes) November 30, 2022
974 Stadium here is actually rocking as Argentina fans stand and jump and celebrate.
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) November 30, 2022
