Only a win is separating Argentina from having a place in the knockout as they are scheduled to take on Poland in the final game of the group stage on Wednesday.
Argentina are about to be involved in one of their most important game of this decade when they face Poland in a virtual knockout playoff at Stadium 974. A win would see them easing through to the next round while a draw could also be sufficient should Mexico get the better of Saudi Arabia in another clash.
Lionel Messi scored one and Enzo Fernandez added a second as Argentina got past Mexico to set up a mouth-watering clash with Poland. Messi already rolled up two goals in two matches and all the eyes will be on him as his country will be banking on him heavily.
They have been billed as one of the strong contenders for the title this time but their loss against Saudi Arabia crashed their hopes. A win in the following match revived their fortunes and they need to carry out their operation once again.
Poland re-energised their chances with a massive win over the Saudis and they will have to finish their long-due task with some good football against the Argentine.
The Polish are yet to concede a goal in this edition of the World Cup and are facing a monumental task against the Argentines who have one of the best-attacking contingents on paper.
Poland will top the group by a simple win while a loss for the Polish can still be enough should Saudi Arabia fail to beat Mexico or the South American country doesn’t win by a margin of four goals.
Team News and Tactics
Poland
Poland manager Czeslaw Michniewicz will name the same lineup that took advantage against Saudi Arabia in the last match.
Wojciech Szczesny will hold on to his position in the goal. Jakub Kiwior and Kamal Glik will pair up in the defence while Matty Cash and Bartosz Bereszynski will be the two fullbacks.
Grzegorz Krychowiak will appear in the deepest midfield position while Krystian Bielik will try to move forward with his creative playmaking skills.
Piotr Zielinski and Przemyslaw and Frankowski will offer their service from the flanks while Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik will be leading the side.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Szczesny; Cash, Glik, Kiwior, Bereszynski; Zielinski, Bielik, Krychowiak, Frankowski; Milik, Lewandowski
Argentina
Despite their win over Mexico in the last match Lionel Scaloni is expected to introduce a few new faces to the starting lineup.
Emiliano Martinez will continue to lead the defensive unit and he will be protected by a newly look back four consisting of Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico.
Enzo Fernandez’s brilliant show should guarantee him a spot in the starting lineup while Leandro Paredes will also return to the lineup. Rodrigo de Paul was quite error-prone in the last match but he will keep his place in the midfield.
The front three should be kept intact as Lautaro Martinez will be flanked by Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): E. Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Fernandez, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, La. Martinez, Di Maria
Key Stats
- This will be the third meeting between these two sides with both sides winning each and the other ending in a draw.
- Poland are on a three-match losing streak against European opponents.
- Poland are one of two teams who are yet to concede a goal in this World Cup.
- Argentina have never been beaten by European countries back to back three times.
Key Player
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi training with Argentina. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/5NfKUHjrRa
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 28, 2022
Messi has already shown his intentions that he means business and the Paris Saint Germain star is the nucleus of a bunch of talented Argentine players. They have been playing together for a long time and it could be an added advantage in their quest for their third World Cup title.
Prediction
Poland 0-1 Argentina
It will be difficult for the Argentines to break down the stringent Polish defence. A late flurry of attacks rescued a majestic win against Mexico and Messi and Co will be expecting something like that.
