World Cup

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World Cup | Group Stage

Nov 30, 2022 at 7pm UK

National Stadium

Poland
0 - 2
Argentina

Krychowiak (78')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Mac Allister (46'), Alvarez (67')
Acuna (49')

World Cup 2022: Reasons for Argentina to be confident of beating Poland

By Ben Sully | 29 November 2022

Ahead of Argentina's game against Poland, Sports Mole looks at some reasons why Argentina will be confident of claiming all three points.

Argentina bounced back from their surprise defeat against Saudi Arabia to secure a 2-0 victory over Mexico in their second World Cup 2022 group game.

The South Americans are now preparing for their final group match against Poland, where a win would seal their place in the last 16.

A draw would leave Argentina relying on the result of Mexico's meeting with Saudi Arabia, while a defeat would eliminate them from the tournament.

Here, Sports Mole looks at some reasons why Argentina will be confident of beating Poland to progress to the knockout rounds.

Argentina's group stage consistency

Argentina's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring their second goal on November 26, 2022 © Reuters

Argentina entered the tournament with aspirations of ending a 26-year wait for their third World Cup trophy, but to keep those hopes alive, they must finish in the top two of the group.

The South Americans have the chance to progress to the knockout stages for the 13th time across their last 14 World Cup appearances, and that impressive record will provide Argentina with inspiration ahead of their all-important game against Poland.

Since being eliminated in the group stage in 1962, the only World Cup where Argentina appeared and failed to reach the knockout rounds was in Japan and South Korea 20 years ago.

In their previous four World Cup appearances, they have reached the quarter-finals in consecutive tournaments and finished as runners-up in 2014, before they were eliminated in the last 16 four years ago.

Poland's South American record

Poland's Robert Lewandowski reacts after having a penalty kick saved by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa on November 22, 2022 © Reuters

Poland have won four of their first seven games against South American sides at the World Cup, but they have since experienced a downturn in fortunes against such opposition.

Their last three World Cup meetings with opponents from South America have all ended in defeat, with Poland failing to score in all three of those contests.

Poland's poor run of results began with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brazil in the last 16 at the 1986 tournament in what proved to be their final World Cup game of the 20th century.

They have since lost 2-0 to Ecuador at the 2006 tournament, while they were thrashed 3-0 by Colombia four years ago, and Argentina will now attempt to continue Poland's woes against South American opposition.

Messi will be key

Theoretically, Wednesday's game could be Lionel Messi's final World Cup match, but Argentina's talisman will do everything in his power to prolong his career at football's biggest tournament.

If Argentina are to progress to the last 16, then Messi will likely have to play a key role, and after scoring in the defeat to Saudi Arabia and the victory over Mexico, he will certainly be up to the task.

As a result of those two strikes, Messi has moved level with Diego Maradona and Guillermo Stabile with eight World Cup goals, and he will have to find the net on two more occasions to equal Gabriel Batitusta's record as Argentina's leading scorer at the tournament.

That personal milestone may be far from Messi's mind ahead of Argentina's final group game, where he will also be looking to create goals as well as score them, and after registering 14 assists in 19 games for PSG this season, he will be confident of providing his teammates with chances to win the game.