The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group C Poland v Argentina clash that will see the redemption of Argentina and therefore Messi, or can Poland and Robert Lewandowski spoil the party.
With so many games and so little time, our Group C Poland v Argentina Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group C Poland v Argentina Match Centre.
KICKOFF – WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV – 22:00 (QATAR) 19:00 (UK) 06:00 (AEDT)
Group C Poland v Argentina Match Review
Argentina have won Group C eventually wearing down Poland to win 2-0. It could have been a bigger score line if not for Polish keeper Szczesny. Poland hang on for qualification for the knockout stage…just.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
2’ Min Early corner for Argentina and an early scuffle involving Nicolás Otamendi and a stray elbow in the box as they battled for the ball. No action taken and didn’t look much in it.
6’ Min Lionel Messi has his first shot on target for the game. As captain of our World Cup fantasy team may there be many. many more.
18’ Min Argentina continues to offer mild attacks on the Polish goal without giving Poland too much to fear. Although with Messi always lurking, can you ever be safe. Poland isn’t offering much to nothing though, and 0-0 is fair enough for now.
28’ Min Argentina’s best attack of the game so far sees a shot blocked and a follow up go wide. Still 0-0 though despite the glut of ball and shots. Sounds like a pub really doesn’t it?
33’ Min Angel di Maria almost scores directly from the corner and it is quite the save from Szczesny to stop it.
35’ Min More chances for Argentina, more saves from Szczesny. Messi receives a little bit of contact in the aftermath, and he lies down on the ground. So as if instructed by Messi himself VAR checks the contact for a penalty. It’ll be lucky if they get it. But Messi is kind of lucky.
PENALTY TO ARGENTINA
PENALTY SAVED…..
Lionel Messi goes right with his kick. Szczesny goes right and saves it masterfully. That’s his second save of the World Cup so far.
42’ Min More chances for Argentina as Szczesny is up to the job again. Well almost. His batting down of this latest shot went straight to an Argentine player who couldn’t react quick enough to take advantage.
45’ Min Half time and somehow Argentina aren’t leading. Well I guess we know why, a missed penalty and a super Polish keeper.
HALF TIME – ARGENTINA 0 POLAND 0
46’ GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL FOR ARGENTINA
After heroically holding off Argentina for the entire first half Poland concede within the first minute of the second half. The move started down Argentina’s right and the cross was sent into the box by Nahuel Molina and put away by Alexis Mac Allister.
POLAND 0 ARGENTINA 1
54’ Min The game has opened up for both sides now, with Poland probably realising they can’t always defence themselves to the knockout stage. Especially now Argentina are leading.
61’ Min Alexis Mac Allister operating under the invisibility cloak of not being Lionel Messi gets a big chance inside the box to score his and his team’s second goal. He hits it at keeper Szczesny, which given his saving record of difficult shots isn’t a recipe for success.
67’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR ARGENTINA
And what a nice goal it was. After some quality passing in the lead up, the ball falls to Julián Álvarez just inside the box, and he controls the ball nicely and twists and shoots and scores. The goal put Poland on the brink of dropping out of the knockout stages. With Mexico winning 2-0 elsewhere, Poland and Mexico have the same number of points and goal difference. With Poland ahead of Fair Play.
POLAND 0 ARGENTINA 2
70’ Min Messi doesn’t care for Poland’s plight as he goes close to scoring for Argentina, but yet another save from Szczesny denies him. Same for Alvarez two minutes later as the side netting saves Poland this time.
85’ Min This game has become a bit stale as both sides technically have enough to qualify for the knockout stage. Trouble for Poland is Messi hasn’t made up for his penalty miss yet, and one ore goal conceded throws them out of the knockout stage
90′ Min Six minutes of agony, we mean added time for Poland.
90′ +2 Min Somehow some desperate Polish cover defence clears the ball away from a certain goal. Poland are hanging on. More stress for Poland is that the other game has more added time, so even if Poland get the result here, they still aren’t guaranteed of anything until the other game finishes and Mexico don’t score again.
Poland hold off Argentina, and Saudi Arabia score to blow Mexico’s chances of usurping Poland to second place, so Poland qualify to play France in the Round of 16.
Final Score
ARGENTINA 2
Alexis Mac Allister. 46′ Julián Álvarez 67′
POLAND 0
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
Wojciech Szczęsny
Group C Poland v Argentina Match Stats
Coming soon.
Group C Poland v Argentina Starting Teams
POLAND (4-4-2)
1 Szczesny
2 Cash
15 Glik
14 Kiwior
18 Bereszynski
20 Zielinski
6 Bielik
10 Krychowiak
24 Frankowski
9 Lewandowski
16 Swiderski
ARGENTINA (4-3-3)
23 Martínez
26 Molina
13 Romero
19 Otamendi
8 Acuña
7 De Paul
24 Fernández
20 Mac Allister
11 Di María
10 Messi
9 Álvarez
Group C Poland v Argentina Match Preview
Why should you care?
Because Group C is on a knife edge for who will go through and not. And pre tournament this looked reasonably clear cut, especially the winner of the group. But here we are going into the third games with Poland on top, and Argentina a mathematical and genuine chance of being turfed out at the group stage.
If you can’t get into a sudden death match involving Argentina, with the possibility that Messi might been playing in the World Cup for the last time, then I question why you’re here. Unless you are a spambot.
Who should you care about?
It’s Messi as always. He turned around the previous game for Argentina with his goal, and boy did they need it. This whole doing it for Messi thing seems to have made the whole Argentine stressed, and although they got the win they needed last time out, they weren’t great. We wonder if the added Messi pressure will see full-on overload of stress.
Similarly, Robert Lewandowski scored an important goal for Poland too, and now he finally has a World Cup goal, he might kick on and and score a few against Argentina tnock them out.
Of course there’s plenty of other players on the ground. Eye catchers from last games were for Argentina Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández, who we can only hope has another super goal ready. Matty Cash for Poland was much involved for Poland last game and could annoy Argentina down the flank.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Poland lead the H2H over Argentina two wins to one. It’s one a piece at the World Cup.
Argentina haven’t lost a last game of the group stage since 1994. Poland have won their last three.
Poland’s record v South American teams at the World Cup is W2 L6.
Who will win?
Poland 0 Argentina 2
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
What is the Table at?
Played / Points / Scored / Conceded / Goal Diff
| Poland | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Argentina | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Mexico | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
