For 30 wonderful, unusual and chaotic minutes on Wednesday, all that separated Poland and Mexico from qualifying for the round of 16… was the number of cards accumulated. Sorry ?
The conclusion of Group C was spectacular in Qatar. Argentina, thanks to their 2-0 victory against Poland at the 974 stadium in Doha, took first place. The Poles, despite the defeat, grabbed the second position.
Meanwhile, Mexico won 2-1 against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium. And no, this victory was not enough for the Mexicans to advance to the next round. How was this possible?
Poland and Mexico finished the group stage with the same number of points, four. The next tiebreaker is goal differential.
So when Argentina’s Julián Alvarez netted the 2-0 in the 67e minute, and at the same time Mexico were leading 2-0 over Saudi Arabia, the two teams were tied in these two columns.
According to FIFA rules, the third tiebreaker is fair play. Yes yes. The number of cards you have accumulated in your journey to the World Cup can determine whether or not you progress to the knockout stage. And it is exactly in this context that the last half hour of play of this group C took place.
For the record, at this time, Mexico had seven yellow cards; Poland, five. The Saudis finally scored against the Mexicans in the 95e minute to give the Poles the lead in goal differential. It didn’t change the ranking order, but it deprived us of confirmation of one of the funniest scenarios possible.
Thank szczesny
It is hoped that the ambulances in Mexico City and Warsaw were ready to act in the event of heart attacks, because stress levels in these two capitals must have reached unprecedented heights during this period. Poland should absolutely not concede a goal. Mexico absolutely had to go get an extra one.
In truth, in the meeting between Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, the spectacle on the ground was clearly diminished. At the end of the match, with two teams qualified and satisfied with the result on both sides, the game was over.
“It was not a match for a scorer like me, said Lewandowski, the FC Barcelona gunner. But I knew it would be like this. […] No one will remember the way we played that game. The important thing is to be ready against France. »
Same story from his coach.
“We have suffered, but maybe something positive will come out of this suffering,” said Czeslaw Michniewicz. I’m sorry we played so nervously tonight, but now is not the time to complain. »
But drama, there had been earlier.
Especially at the 39e minute. Moments before, Lionel Messi had received goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s hand in the face as the Argentine attempted to head the ball in. The referee, after checking the video replay, decides controversially to award the penalty.
Messi settles down. In front of him, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. As for the precise action of blocking a penalty shot, this is perhaps the best. Messi goes there with a powerful shot… brilliantly blocked by the hand of the Pole.
That critical save, right there, is arguably why Poland are preparing to face France in the round of 16. The Juventus jailer made no less than nine saves in the first half, including this one. The man of the match and the tournament for this formation. He had blocked another, in addition to his rebound, against Saudi Arabia.
Coming out of the locker room, Argentina did not take long to win. Alexis Mac Allister found the back of the net after 68 seconds. A weak shot in the area, but well placed.
The Albiceleste, strong in their dominant possession (74%) continued to attack. She recorded no less than 23 shots against 4 for Poland. Of the lot, she framed 12.
“Patience was the key, analyzed Nicolas Tagliafico, Argentinian left side. We knew that Poland was going to try to defend by putting a lot of people behind. […] Of the three games we played at the 2022 World Cup, I think this is the best. »
Julián Alvarez doubled his side’s lead to the 67e with a good right-footed shot into the box.
The Argentinian victory was unequivocal, even if the challenge of this meeting was not there. After the great disappointment of his appearance against the Saudis, the Argentines are well and truly launched in this competition.
With Agence France-Presse