Argentina top group as Poland through on goal difference

Published on: 30 November 2022

Argentina completed the turnaround from the shock opening World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia by qualifying for the last 16 in impressive style against Poland - who went through on goal difference having finished level on points with Mexico.

Lionel Messi was the catalyst for the crucial win against Mexico that got Argentina's campaign back on track, and he was instrumental again as they illustrated why they were regarded as one of the tournament favourites to set up a second-round match against Australia.

Poland were set to progress by virtue of the Fifa Fair Play rule for having fewer yellow cards than Mexico - until Saudi Arabia pulled one back deep into stoppage time in their 2-1 loss to the Concacaf side. The Poles will now face France after surviving an incredibly dramatic finale in which another goal for Argentina or Mexico would have knocked them out.

Argentina ran out comfortable winners with second-half goals from Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister and Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, but the game still held real drama and jeopardy in the closing stages as Poland knew another goal conceded, or another goal for Mexico against the Saudis, would send them out on goal difference.

Argentina dominated throughout but had to wait until after the second half to make the breakthrough as Messi had a first-half penalty saved by Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny after the pair collided in an aerial challenge, a harsh award after a video assistant referee consultation.

Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead they deserved when he swept home Nahuel Molina's cross a minute after the break and Alvarez sealed victory with a fine finish into the top corner in the 67th minute.

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Impressive Argentina show class

Argentina's improvement continued as they produced their best performance of the World Cup to outclass a disappointing Poland.

The Argentines shook off the shock of that stunning loss to Saudi Arabia to settle their nerves with a Messi-inspired win against Mexico then stepped up to another level to confirm a last-16 game against Australia.

Messi's first-half penalty miss was a minor interruption on their path to victory as they held complete command of territory and possession against a passive Poland, especially given what was at stake.

Argentina keeper Emi Martinez did not have a moment of anxiety and once Mac Allister put them ahead the game was virtually over, Alvarez confirming it with a superb strike past the excellent Szczesny that hinted at his own rich potential.

Messi showed flashes of his mercurial best but this was a complete performance from Argentina who played with greater intensity and fire than they have so far.

They have taken their time to show why they are so highly regarded but produced plenty of evidence here to illustrate just how dangerous they will be in the knockout stage.

Passive Poland ride their luck

It was symbolic of this lacklustre Poland performance that their greatest show of passion all night came after the game had finished when they punched the air as news of Saudi Arabia's goal against Mexico that confirmed their place in the last 16 filtered down on to the pitch.

Poland's players revelled in the good tidings as they waved red and white flags on the pitch, barely able to believe they were through to face France.

They can consider themselves fortunate to be there after this poor performance in which they never troubled Argentina and the great striker Robert Lewandowski did not receive any service worthy of the name.

One exception to the mediocre fare from the rest of his colleagues was former Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny, who was magnificent throughout, saving Messi's penalty and producing other stops in a faultless display.

Poland are through and enjoyed their celebration but they will have to step up several levels to trouble France.

Player of the match

Mac AllisterAlexis Mac Allister

with an average of 8.23

    PolandPolandPolandArgentinaArgentinaArgentina

PolandAvgSquad number1Player nameSzczesnyAverage rating

7.80

Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating

7.07

Squad number9Player nameLewandowskiAverage rating

5.89

Squad number15Player nameGlikAverage rating

5.67

Squad number20Player nameZielinskiAverage rating

5.62

Squad number18Player nameBereszynskiAverage rating

5.56

Squad number6Player nameBielikAverage rating

5.56

Squad number14Player nameKiwiorAverage rating

5.33

Squad number10Player nameKrychowiakAverage rating

5.27

Squad number16Player nameSwiderskiAverage rating

5.27

Squad number24Player nameFrankowskiAverage rating

5.17

Squad number8Player nameSzymanskiAverage rating

4.53

Squad number13Player nameKaminskiAverage rating

4.53

Squad number26Player nameSkórasAverage rating

4.49

Squad number3Player nameJedrzejczykAverage rating

4.43

Squad number23Player namePiatekAverage rating

4.19

ArgentinaAvgSquad number20Player nameMac AllisterAverage rating

8.23

Squad number10Player nameMessiAverage rating

7.44

Squad number9Player nameÁlvarezAverage rating

7.37

Squad number23Player nameMartínezAverage rating

6.87

Squad number11Player nameDi MaríaAverage rating

6.78

Squad number24Player nameFernándezAverage rating

6.71

Squad number7Player nameDe PaulAverage rating

6.61

Squad number13Player nameRomeroAverage rating

6.56

Squad number26Player nameMolinaAverage rating

6.54

Squad number19Player nameOtamendiAverage rating

6.39

Squad number8Player nameAcuñaAverage rating

6.30

Squad number3Player nameTagliaficoAverage rating

6.14

Squad number5Player nameParedesAverage rating

6.06

Squad number16Player nameAlmadaAverage rating

5.95

Squad number6Player namePezzellaAverage rating

5.94

Squad number22Player nameMartínezAverage rating

5.90

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsPoland

Formation 4-4-2

1Szczesny2Cash15Glik14Kiwior18Bereszynski20Zielinski6Bielik10Krychowiak24Frankowski9Lewandowski16Swiderski

    1Szczesny2Cash15Glik14Kiwior18BereszynskiSubstituted forJedrzejczykat 72'minutes20Zielinski6BielikSubstituted forSzymanskiat 62'minutes10KrychowiakBooked at 78minsSubstituted forPiatekat 83'minutes24FrankowskiSubstituted forKaminskiat 45'minutes9Lewandowski16SwiderskiSubstituted forSkórasat 45'minutes

Substitutes

    3Jedrzejczyk4Wieteska5Bednarek7Milik8Szymanski11Grosicki12Skorupski13Kaminski17Zurkowski19Szymanski21Zalewski22Grabara23Piatek25Gumny26Skóras

Argentina

Formation 4-3-3

23Martínez26Molina13Romero19Otamendi8Acuña7De Paul24Fernández20Mac Allister11Di María10Messi9Álvarez

    23Martínez26Molina13Romero19Otamendi8AcuñaBooked at 49minsSubstituted forTagliaficoat 59'minutes7De Paul24FernándezSubstituted forPezzellaat 79'minutes20Mac AllisterSubstituted forAlmadaat 84'minutes11Di MaríaSubstituted forParedesat 59'minutes10Messi9ÁlvarezSubstituted forMartínezat 79'minutes

Substitutes

    1Armani2Foyth3Tagliafico4Montiel5Paredes6Pezzella12Rulli14Palacios15Correa16Almada17Gómez Villaverde18Rodríguez21Dybala22Martínez25Martínez

Referee:Danny MakkelieAttendance:44,089Match StatsHome TeamPolandAway TeamArgentinaPossessionHome27%Away73%ShotsHome4Away23Shots on TargetHome0Away12CornersHome1Away9FoulsHome6Away11Live Text Post update

Match ends, Poland 0, Argentina 2.

90'+7'Full Time

Second Half ends, Poland 0, Argentina 2.

90'+5'Post update

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+5'Post update

Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Poland).

90'+3'Post update

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Kamil Glik.

90'+2'Post update

Attempt blocked. Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago Almada.

89'Post update

Foul by Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina).

89'Post update

Piotr Zielinski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86'Post update

Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.

85'Post update

Foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina).

85'Post update

Michal Skóras (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

84'Substitution

Substitution, Argentina. Thiago Almada replaces Alexis Mac Allister.

83'Substitution

Substitution, Poland. Krzysztof Piatek replaces Grzegorz Krychowiak.

79'Substitution

Substitution, Argentina. Lautaro Martínez replaces Julián Álvarez.

79'Substitution

Substitution, Argentina. Germán Pezzella replaces Enzo Fernández.

78'Booking

Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

78'Post update

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

78'Post update

Foul by Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland).

73'Post update

Attempt missed. Julián Álvarez (Argentina) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a through ball.

72'Substitution

Substitution, Poland. Artur Jedrzejczyk replaces Bartosz Bereszynski.

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