Argentina have been confirmed as Australia’s opponents in the Round of 16 clash on Sunday morning (AEDT) after Lionel Messi’s men comfortably disposed of a poor Poland side to qualify top of Group C.
Poland progressed regardless as Mexico’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia proved insufficient, with a late Salem Al-Dawsari strike dashing Mexican hopes.
After attritional showings against Poland and Argentina, Mexico threw the kitchen sink at the Saudis, with goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez – his a superb free kick from range – giving El Tri hope of a sixth consecutive appearance in the last 16, but they were unable to find a third that would have put them through ahead of the Poles.
Robert Lewandowski et al will now face a tough task against France, while Messi’s men run into the resurgent Socceroos.
The albiceleste stumbled early on in this tournament, famously losing to Saudi Arabia in their first game, but in the end, progressed comfortably with a 2-0 win here to back up their win by the same scoreline over Mexico.
Messi missed a penalty in the first half, raising fears that the one-way traffic would not result in a goal, but once Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring within a minute of the resumption of play, progression was never in doubt.
Poland had arrived with the approach of sitting in and hoping for something on the break, but never threatened and, as they dropped deeper and deeper, invited pressure on themselves.
Even when they went a goal, then two, behind, they preferred to rely on their slim goal difference advantage over Mexico – which eventually became a fair play points advantage – than push.
In the end, the plan worked, though it was hard to say it was the result of much more than luck. Argentina missed a hatful of chances and, in the end, it took a late Saudi goal to put them through.
Julian Alverez, Marcos Acuna and Messi all had dangerous shots early on, and Poland had long since abandoned attacking by the time the defining moment of the first half came just after the half hour.
It was the sort of penalty that you never see given, but probably should be: mere seconds after denying Julian Alvarez, Wojtech Szczesny went to flap at a cross, but was beaten to the ball by Messi. His header went wide and the keeper collected him in the face.
If it happens on the floor, with an attacker beating a keeper to the ball before being taken out, it is always given – and, after a VAR review, this one was by dutch referee Danny Makkelie. After all that, Messi stepped up – and Szczesny saved it.
The onslaught was now total. Alvarez had a shot palmed straight into Rodrigo de Paul, who was too close to react before Di Maria fired and, again, Szczesny stopped it. The keeper went to the break with seven saves, including a penalty, and the sense that only he was holding Poland together.
It couldn’t last. Just two minutes into the second half, Nahuel Molina got to the byline on the right, cut back to Alexics Mac Allister and the Brighton midfielder did the rest.
The news from the other group then dropped. Mexico had scored twice in quick succession and shifted the goal difference equation to perilous for Poland, with one more for Argentina – or for Mexico – liable to send El Tri through. Mac Allister nearly provided it, this time off a cross from the left, but Szczesny was down to save.
Poland didn’t change their approach one jot, and were punished. Argentina took their time and shuffled the ball along the edge of the box waiting for an opening: when one appeared, Enzo Fernandez played fast and vertical to Alvarez, who made a yard and smashed into the top corner.
Polish hopes now rested on fair play points, and yet continue to eschew attacking. Messi had another shot saved and Alvarez hit the side netting. Jakub Kiwior played a blind backpass that set sub Lautaro Martinez free on goal, but he screwed wide.
Poland picked up another booking – just one away from drawing lots to progress – and Nicolas Tagliafico spurned another chance as Kiwiol nodded off the line with Szczesny beaten. The defence was a flat back six as the final whistle blew.
Attention switched to the Lusail Stadium, with Mexico finishing two minutes later. No sooner had the world tuned in than the Saudi scored, with Salem Al-Dawsari slotting past Memo Ochoa to seal the deal for Poland in absentia.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
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