Victorious from Poland (2-0), Lionel Messi and his teammates will find Australia, Saturday December 3, in the round of 16 of the World Cup. Poland will be opposed to France on Sunday at 4 p.m. Mexico and Saudi Arabia are eliminated.
by Florian Lefèvre
What is a qualification for the knockout stages of the World Cup is? More points scored during the group phase? A better goal difference? More goals scored? This can also pass the number of yellow cards received by a team in the tournament. Wednesday, November 30, at the time of the outcome of group C of the 2022 edition, it long had to look at the regulations and this sixth and penultimate criterion – before the draw – to decide between Poland and Mexico, in Perfect equality in their duel at a distance. We rewind.
While Mexico faced Saudi Arabia, the two teams at the head of the group before the last day were opposed on the field of DOHA stadium: Robert Lewandowski Poland and Lionel Messi Argentina and Argentina . The Albiceleste knew that a defeat was synonymous with elimination … and surely of the last match in the World Cup for its seventeen 35 -year gold ball.
Victim of Saudi Arabia during the first day, the Argentines had given themselves a little air by taking the three points against Mexico, without convincing in the game. For this third act, they have shown a completely different face.
The coach Lionel Scaloni had made strong choices by passed in particular from his flagship striker, Lautaro Martinez (holder at Inter Milan), for the benefit of the young Julian Alvarez (22, replacing Manchester City). Compared to the victory against Mexico, the coach also made two defense changes – the side Nahuel Molina in place of Gonzalo Montiel and, in the hinge, Cristian Romero rather than Lisandro Martinez – and another in the middle of the field – Enzo Fernandez in place of Guido Rodriguez.
Very enterprising at the start of the match, carried by a stadium acquired to its cause, Argentina dominated a one -way match (14 attempts, against 1 in favor of Poland, in the first period). At the 37
The Argentinian number 10 was responsible for drawing the penalty … but saw his shot pushed from the end of the glove by a Wojciech Szczesny, decidedly exceptional in the exercise, he who had already diverted a two-step Penalty against Saudi Arabia (2-0) in the previous match. Not enough to undermine the morale of the Argentines as far as.
From the first moments of the second period, the middle Alexis Mac Allister finds the opening, taking up the ground of a center of Nahuel Molina (1-0, 46 ). The very active Julian Alvarez then gave more magnitude to the score of a wrapped in full skylight (2-0, 67
a perfect, Polish and Mexican equality then find themselves decreed by the last criterion preceding the fateful draw: the disciplinary classification. In this register, Czeslaw Michnieticz players have received fewer yellow cards since the start of the tournament than Mexicans. At this time of the evening and for long minutes, their qualification for the knockout stages only holds this little surplus of wisdom, as much to say to a thread.
Finally, a goal from Saudi Arabia at the end of additional time ended all these calculations, releasing Poland, which rises beyond the first round of a World Cup for the first time since the ‘1986 edition. In the round of 16, the Lionel Messi team will find Australia, Saturday December 3, while that of Robert Lewandowski will be opposed to France on Sunday at 4 p.m. For Mexico and Saudi Arabia, the Qatari adventure stops there.