Lionel Messi missed a controversial first-half penalty for Argentina against Poland, but his side recovered in time to win 2-0, their second in a row won and advanced to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup as Group C winners.
Posted on – 11:05 AM, Thu – 1 December 22
Doha: Lionel Messi missed a controversial first-half penalty for Argentina against Poland, but his side recovered in time to win 2-0, their second in a row won and advanced to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup as Group C winners.
Alexis McAllister and Julian Alvarez scored a goal each to give two-time champions Argentina the perfect score at the 974 Stadium on Wednesday night.
La Albiceleste started their season with a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their Group C opener with two second-half goals and six points.
Group leaders Argentina will face Australia, who are second in Group D. With 1 win to Saudi Arabia and 1 loss, Poland has the same record as Mexico and has qualified for the promotion due to a better goal difference than their Latin American opponents. Saudi Arabia finished last with three points in their only win over Argentina.
Poland, behind group leaders Argentina, also advanced to the round of 16 and will face defending champions France, who topped their group despite a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.
Aiming to keep the trophy, Deschamps will continue their strong start to the tournament with a view to reaching the quarter-finals.
Argentina and Poland join Australia, Portugal, Brazil, England, France, the Netherlands, Senegal and the United States for a total of 10 teams in the round of 16 stage, with another six in qualifying for the next stage of the tournament.
“It was a very important win. We had a lot of pressure after the first game, but now we’re out of the group. It’s nice to score my first goal for Argentina. Today for me and my family It was a big moment for me. It was a big moment for me and I will always remember it. We played a big game,” said Brighton’s Mac Allister.
Mac Allister Their last 16 opponents Australia will be a tough opponent.
“We think they’re a good team. I played against them in the Olympics and we lost. So we know how difficult it is for them, of course, not the same team and we’re not the same team, but They’re a really good team and it’s going to be a tough side.”
Argentina dominated the first period, with Lionel Messi scoring two shots on goal in the opening ten minutes, and the Argentines lashed out at Poland’s goal.
They continued to shoot in the first half, including Rodrigo de Paul’s stunning attempt from the corner flag.
In the 36th minute, Julian Alvarez, who started in place of Lautaro Martinez, had a shot from close range that was also blocked.
Controversy then arose when Messi was awarded a penalty after being reviewed by VAR. Polish goalkeeper Wojcie Hrszczesny tried to deflect an Argentine cross but missed and his hand hit Messi on the head at the back post. Messi’s header went wide of the post.
But, in a stunning twist, Szczesny saved Messi’s penalty with a superb save – his second of the tournament.
Argentina played some of the best football of the World Cup ahead of the round of 16, much to the delight of Scaloni, as they beat the penalty shoot-out with two goals in the second period.
60 seconds after the restart, Argentina took the lead thanks to a goal from Brighton midfielder McAllister. Molina reached the touchline and cut the ball back to where McAllister waited – the 23-year-old didn’t make a clean catch as he swept the ball with his right foot, but the direction was perfect, just touching After the far post passes Szczesny.
The second goal came. This is a great performance from Alvarez. Enzo Fernandes broke through the defense and found Alvaraz, who touched the ball and turned to fire a rocket into the top corner. In the 67th minute, the Manchester City man sealed Argentina’s top spot with an instinctively brilliant strike.
