The duel between Argentina and Poland could potentially be the last World Cup match for Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, while in Group A, the Netherlands and Senegal have qualified for the big 16.
By
M YUNIADHI AGUNG AND M IKHSAN MAHAR from Doha, Qatar
·6 minutes read
AP/JORGE SAENZ
Lionel Messi warms up during an Argentina training on the eve of a group C World Cup soccer match against Poland in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022.
DOHA, KOMPAS — Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the hopes of the supporters of Argentina and Poland to advance their favorite team to continue their 2022 World Cup journey. The two teams will face each other in the final Group C match to fight for a place among the big 16 at Stadium 974 on Thursday (1/12/2022) at 2 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB).
The winner of that match will join the Netherlands and Senegal from Group A, which have qualified for the big 16. In the last Group A match on Wednesday (30/11), the Netherlands ranked first in the group with a 2-0 win over Qatar, while Senegal unseated Ecuador in second with a 2-1 win.
In Thursday’s match, which will be the first meeting between Argentina and Poland in a World Cup since 1978, only one team might qualify for the knockout stage. The reason is, if Saudi Arabia beats Mexico, the team that wins Thursday’s match will also be through to represent Group C in the round of 16.
The outcome would be slightly different if the two Group C matches ended in draws. In this situation, Poland will qualify as the group winner with Argentina in second.
In order for the fates of Argentina and Poland to not be dependent on the outcome of the Saudi-Mexico match, both teams will need to work hard to claim the last three points in the preliminary round of the 2022 World Cup. A victory for either team will seal their position at the top of Group C, but will also mean avoiding a meeting in the round of 16 with France, which has a big chance of winning Group D.
As the team that is almost certain to win Group D, France will face the second-ranked team in Group C. On the other hand, the Group C winner will face the Group D runner-up, which is still being contested by three teams, namely Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that his side’s match against Poland was inseparable from the spotlight on Messi (35) and Lewandowski (34). However, two seasoned attackers would not be the only ones to influence the match’s result.
“It is an honor for me to witness Lewandowski firsthand. For me, Lewandowski is as great a player as Messi. We don’t need to compare the two players too much, just enjoy their performances,” Scaloni told a press conference on Tuesday (29/11), ahead of the match in Doha.
This match is not about Robert [Lewandowski] and Messi, but about Poland versus Argentina.
As with Scaloni, Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz also said the two extraordinary players had always been a topic of discussion since his team was placed in the same group as Argentina. However, Michniewicz underlined that football was a team sport, so the best players in a team still needed the maximum contribution from every member on the team.
“This match is not about Robert [Lewandowski] and Messi, but about Poland versus Argentina. I ask the players to play with a cool head, don’t feel pressured and give their best,” he said.
The spotlight on the two “goal predators” is certainly understandable. According to Opta Sports, Messi has scored goals for Argentina in six consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski just scored his first goal in the World Cup in the match against Saudi Arabia, making him the oldest Polish player to score at the world’s largest football tournament.
AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA
Robert Lewandowski celebrates after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Poland and Saudi Arabia at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 26, 2022.
Positive vibes
Argentina and Poland are facing their life-or-death Group C match with positivity. Argentina, for example, relieved the pressure of being defeated by Saudi Arabia after it beat Mexico, while Poland was able to dampen Saudi Arabia’s attacking spirit.
Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez admitted that his team’s morale had turned 180 degrees after facing Saudi Arabia. The Manchester United player added that Argentina was full of positive thoughts and feelings, which were very important ahead of the decisive match against Poland.
“Our recovery during the match against Mexico proved that this squad is a united team. We are happy with yesterday’s victory, and we will continue to improve ourselves by pursuing positive results in the last match,” said Martinez.
The match against Poland will undeniably be a test for “La Albiceleste” to end its bad streak in the last two matches against European teams in the World Cup. The team lost 0-3 to Croatia and 3-4 to France at Russia 2018.
Argentina also does not want to repeat its bad experience at South Korea-Japan 2002, when it failed to make it to the knockout stage for the first time. During its 14 World Cup appearances, Argentina has been eliminated in the preliminary round only once.
On the other hand, Poland is also facing Argentina with high confidence because “The White-Reds” were one of three teams that did not concede until their second match, the other two being Brazil and Morocco.
“This achievement [not conceding] makes us happy with the defense line’s performance. But against Argentina, we have to first prepare ourselves for a scenario of conceding, so we can react and not panic,” said Michniewicz, who has ambitions to end Poland’s long wait to advance from the preliminary round since Mexico 1986.
No points
In Group A, Qatar became the first host team in a World Cup to fail to earn a single point. The Netherlands’ two goals at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor were contributed by Cody Gakpo in the 26th minute and Frenkie de Jong in the 49th minute.
Louis van Gaal’s side advanced to the round of 16 as the Group A winner with seven points. Netherlands midfielder Davy Klaassen said his team had performed much better in the last game than when they were held to a draw by Ecuador.
Meanwhile, Senegal secured second place in Group A through captain Kalidou Koulibaly’s decisive goal in the 70th minute, made less than three minutes after Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo equalized with 1-1. Senegal fans and players had big smiles. Meanwhile, the supporters and players of Ecuador, which only needed a draw to qualify, wept with disappointment.
