There could only be one victor as Argentina defeated Poland 2-0 to win Group C and advance to the World Cup knockout round where they will face Australia. For once, Messi did not lead the Albiceleste to victory—he even missed a penalty in the first half—but Argentina still swayed to his beat.
For once, Messi did not lead the Albiceleste to victory—he even missed a penalty in the first half—but Argentina still swayed to his beat. Lewandowski, on the other hand, never really got into the game, mirroring his oddly reserved and passive team members who sat back from the opening whistle and hardly ever put Emiliano Martinez, the Argentine goalkeeper, to the test.
Czeslaw Michniewicz, the Poland coach, attributed the team’s underwhelming performance to Lewandowski’s poor performance. Messi would have scored five goals if he had played for us instead of Argentina, according to Robert Lewandowski.
Despite the discouraging night, there was some consolation for the Polish star: thanks to Mexico’s 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in the other Group C match, Poland qualified for the round of 16 as the group’s runners-up on goal differential.
The Argentine had a clear advantage in a match that the South Americans dominated from the outset and was a part of the most significant and contentious moment of the first 45 minutes. When Messi challenged for a header in the area, Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was found to have fouled Messi.
However, Messi took the game to Poland in the second half and twice drove into the area only to have his shot blocked by a last-ditch tackler. Messi was not involved in either of Argentina’s two goals. And 20 minutes from time, the seven-time world player of the year could have sealed the victory, but Szczesny dived well to stop his errant shot from inside the box.