At 34, the FC Barcelona striker is certainly playing his last World Cup and all the hopes of Poland rest on his shoulders. Since the quarter-final at Euro 2016, it is clear that the White Eagles have flown from disappointment to disappointment. In 2018, the Poles finished last in an affordable group behind Colombia, Japan and Senegal. Same disappointment last year at the Euro when Sweden, Spain and Slovakia once again beat the Whites and Reds who finished at the bottom of the class with a small point on the clock.
The course to qualify for the World Cup was hardly more reassuring: Czeslaw Michniewicz's men finished 2nd in their group behind England with only 2 points ahead of Albania and 3 over Hungary. But they then won the decisive match against Sweden in the play-offs (2-0). Having fallen into a complicated group in the Nations League with Belgium and the Netherlands, the Poles have lost 3 of their last 5 games and risk suffering another setback in Qatar, unless Lewandowski manages to change everything.
The only non-European team to have reached the final of the World Cup since 2006 (defeat against Germany in 2014), Argentina then lived through complicated years with a qualification for the 2018 World Cup in pain and a chaotic competition. in Russia under the orders of Jorge Sampaoli. The Albiceleste had only one point after 2 days and qualified for the round of 16 only by snatching the victory in the 86thminute of the last match against Nigeria (2-1) before being knocked out by France after an epic match (3-4).
Since then, water has flowed under the bridges and the Argentines are doing much better. The proof, last year they won their first Copa America since 1993 by beating Brazil in the final (1-0) then they qualified for the World Cup without conceding the slightest defeat by finishing 2nd in South America, just behind Brazil. The country of Lionel Messi remains on an impressive series of 35 games without defeat and, even before the World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni was extended until June 2026, a sign of the confidence he enjoys. Even if it is far from having the most flashy squad in its history (Messi, Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Dybala or even Lo Celso all the same), the Albiceleste has perhaps never been so close to finding the tops.
Hard to find more consistent than Mexico at the World Cup! The Tri has qualified for the round of 16 in the last 7 editions of the competition and it has always been eliminated at this stage of the competition! Beaten by the United States in the final of the Gold Cup last year (0-1, ap), Gerardo Martino's men qualified for the World Cup without too many fears by finishing 2nd in the CONCACAF Zone, only beaten by the Canada. The friendly matches played in June and September, however, cast doubt since Hirving Lozano's teammates recorded only two wins in 7 outings (Nigeria and Peru), for 2 draws (Guatemala and Ecuador) and 3 defeats (Uruguay , Paraguay and Colombia). Everything should be decided against Poland.
Eliminated in the first round during its last 4 participations in the World Cup, Saudi Arabia starts further back in this group. Trained by the Frenchman Hervé Renard, already sitting on the Morocco bench during the 2018 edition, the Falcons will however be keen to shine for this first World Cup disputed in an Arab country. To do this, they will try to continue after winning 4 years ago against Egypt (2-1) on the last day, ending a terrible series of 12 consecutive games without success in the competition! In Asia, the Saudis remain in any case the leaders, as evidenced by their qualification at the head of a full-bodied group ahead of Japan and Australia. It remains to be exported on the world stage despite a 100% local workforce. At this level, the preparation matches did not dispel all doubts with 1-0 defeats against Venezuela and Colombia in June and two 0-0 against Ecuador and the United States in September.
Tuesday November 22:
11 a.m., Argentina – Saudi Arabia, at Lusail Stadium
, Mexico – Poland, at Stade 974
Saturday November 26:
2 p.m., Poland – Saudi ArabiaThe
star
Wednesday, November 30:
8:00 p.m., Poland – Argentina, at 974 Stadium
8:00 p.m., Saudi Arabia – Mexico, at Lusail Stadium
In 4 appearances at the World Cup, the Argentine star has known more disappointments than joy and it was finally only in 2014, when the Albiceleste had reached the final of the tournament and that the seven-time Ballon d'Or had been named best player, that his record will have really convinced. But that could change! Freed by the coronation in Copa America, returned in better shape with Paris Saint-Germain this season, the native of Rosario walks on water in selection in 2024 with a record of 10 goals and 2 assists in 6 matches on the 'calendar year ! At 35, the Parisian knows that this is probably his last chance to win the supreme title.
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