World Cup 2022: Legends Meet in Group C Climax

Poland vs Argentina

Two of the biggest names at World Cup 2022 are set to meet at the Stadium 974 on Wednesday when Poland and Argentina slug it out in the Group C Last Chance Saloon.

Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi were both on target in their last outings and now two of the best players on the planet are vying to stay in the competition. Poland lead Group C on four points thanks to a win over Saudi Arabia and a draw with Mexico while Argentina sit precariously in second place on three. 

The two head coaches, Czeslaw Michniewicz and Lionel Scaloni, have their own clear objectives for this game; Poland needs a point to qualify for the Round of 16 and while that might just be enough for both teams, Argentina needs a win to ensure they make a safe passage.    

Talking Points

Messi vs Lewy

With well over 1,000 career goals between them Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski have been two of the most lethal strikers in world football for a decade and a half. The Argentine magician scored 474 for Barcelona alone, and the Polish talisman is now ripping up La Liga at the Camp Nou.

Amazingly, Lewandowski scored his first-ever World Cup goal in Poland’s win over Saudi Arabia, but with 77 goals for his country, he is Poland’s top scorer of all time. Lewy is the third-highest Champions League goalscorer in history and he scored a record 41 goals for FC Bayern in the 2020-21, coming second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or.

There are plenty of Poland fans, and neutrals, who couldn’t believe Lewy didn’t win the 2021 Ballon d’Or but it was Messi’s seventh, a record for that coveted award. The Argentine had just led his nation to the Copa America, their first trophy in three decades. He is the all-time top scorer in La Liga and his 93 goals for Argentina make Messi his nation’s top scorer too. In this tournament he has two goals and one assist so far while Lewandowski has one goal and one assist. Lewy had nine goals in the qualifiers while Messi scored seven.            

Argentina vs Poland

The World Cup 2022 betting odds initially installed Argentina as third favourites to win the tournament and they are still there, despite falling to Saudi Arabia in their opener, the biggest upset in modern World Cup history. Argentina’s meeting with Mexico was make or break for Messi and Co and they delivered as Enzo Fernandez scored a brilliant goal to become his country’s youngest scorer since Messi in 2006. The captain rifled home his second of the tournament to make it two and put the Albiceleste’s destiny in its own hands.

Lautaro Martinez, who scored seven goals in World Cup qualifying, is starring again for Inter Milan and will partner Messi up front while Fernandez will keep his place in midfield alongside the energetic Rodrigo De Paul. Lisandro Martinez, ‘The Butcher’ will start at centre back and his responsibility is to keep Lewandowski quiet.   

There have been some pretty big World Cup 2022 results already in this tournament, no more so than Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia. Could that turn out to be the shock which sparked the Albiceleste’s first World Cup triumph in over three decades? Time will tell.

Poland boss Michniewicz opted for Arkadiusz Milik alongside Lewandowski against the Saudis and that seemed to free up the main man, so I expect Milik to keep his place and Karol Swiderski will start on the bench. Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski scored in Poland’s clash with the Super Saudis and he is likely to start behind the front two while going toe to toe with De Paul in the fight for supremacy in midfield. 

Poland’s last line of defence, Wojciech Szczesny, might be the busiest man of the night.

Victories over Wales, Saudi Arabia and Chile in a friendly show that the Eagles can see off decent competition, but back-to-back Nations League defeats to the Netherlands and Belgium suggest Poland will struggle against the very best.

History

Argentina were widely tipped to win their third World Cup – and a first since 1986 – in Qatar, though their slow start has cast a little doubt. But this is a team which has tasted success recently with a Copa America triumph in 2021. The closest Poland came to world domination was back in 1982 when they reached the semi-finals for the second time in eight years, and they reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2016.

These two teams have met three times before and Poland have the edge, with two wins to one. The last meeting, a friendly in 2011, ended in a 2-1 victory for the Europeans.

Recent form favours the Albiceleste. Poland are unbeaten in four and have three wins, a draw and two defeats from their last six games, while Argentina have won five and lost one.     

Betting Tip

Scaloni’s men are red-hot favourites for this match at a SBOTOP price of 1.43 while the draw is at 4.30 and Poland are at 7.30 to get the win. I expect Messi to do the business and the most likely score-line is a 1-0 Argentina win, with 2-0 at 5.60.

 

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