Player Ratings La Albiceleste advances to the knockout stages

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Goals from Alastair McAllister and Julian Alvarez for Argentina ensured Argentina top of Group C and their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Poland also qualified despite losing thanks to Mexico beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 only.

Argentina started the game brightly, with Lionel Messi repeatedly winning the ball in and around the penalty area – always Argentina’s game plan. The PSG star had a notable first shot on goal in the 10th minute, cutting through the left side of the box before touching the palm of Wojciech Szczesny with a powerful shot on goal.

Argentina managed to maintain that pressure with relative ease after that, with Poland more than happy to sit back and defend a point that would last until the last 16.

Marcos Acuna was next to go close to the Argentines about half an hour later, drilling in a low-footed shot from the right post.

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Julián Alvarez Szczesny then forced a superb save five minutes later, as Juventus number one deflected Alvarez’s effort into goal from the left side of the box just wide.

Moments later we witnessed the worst refereeing decision in the tournament so far. Argentina were awarded a horrible penalty after a lengthy VAR check after Szczucny was judged to have touched Messi’s face while they were competing for a cross into the penalty area.

The resulting penalty kick was then brilliantly saved by the Polish goalkeeper, who sprinted to his left to deflect Messi’s effort wide of the goal. Justice well and really served.

Immediately after the second half whistle, Argentina finally got their goal. Brighton star Alexis McAllister will be the man to get it, latching on to a low cross from right-back Nahuel Molina past Szczucny into the bottom right corner of the net.

This goal would finally awaken Poland as an attacking entity, and in the 49th minute, they nearly scored the equalizer through Kamil Glick. The veteran defender rose to the highest level to deliver a cross from the right wide.

After some tactical adjustments, Lionel Scaloni’s men resolutely regained control of the game. In the 67th minute, they deserved to double their lead through Julian Alvarez. The young striker saved two Polish defenders before firing high into the net.

It was almost three times in the 72nd minute when Messi played a great through ball into Alvarez’s path again. However, the striker could only find the side netting with his subsequent shot on goal.

In the 85th minute, Lautaro Martínez came off the bench to almost eliminate Poland from the competition. After catching a pass from behind, the Inter player burst into the penalty area but his shot on goal went wide of the post.

Then Jakub Kujor saved Poland from an early exit with a stunning shot wide of the line in the 93rd minute. The towering defender came back fine to fire up a glowing Nicholas Tagliafico goal to keep his country in the tournament.

GK – Wojciech Szczęsny – 8/10 – He saved his second penalty in the group stage and looked generally unbeatable in the first half. He was finally beaten in the second, but by God what a performance regardless.

Right back – Matty Cash – 3/10 – It did not go forward as Poland would have liked.

Center back – Camille Glick – 4/10 – The kind of game that suited him at this point in his career however wasn’t particularly good.

Center back – Jakub Kiwior – 7/10 – He caught Molina’s cross that led to the opener. He adjusted with a great clearance off the line in overtime.

Left back – Bartosz Berezinski – 3/10 – He struggled to defend his side.

cm – Pyotr Zelensky – 3/10 – He is required to be better at handling the ball than he was on this ball.

CM – Christian Bellic – 4/10 – He defended well but overall he looked desperate in possession.

cm – Gregory Krychowiak – 2/10 – He stumbled when he could get close to the ball…not often because he couldn’t run anymore.

Morning – Przemyslaw Frankowski – 1/10 – Did literally nothing and got laid off in half the time.

Striker – Robert Lewandowski – 2/10 – So, very isolated.

ST – Karol Swiderski – N/A – did he play He didn’t, right? of course no.

SUB – Michel Skouras – 4/10.

SUB – Jakub Kaminsky – 3/10.

SUB – Damien Szymanski – Unavailable.

SUB – Artur Jedrzejczyk – N/A.

SUB – Krzysztof Piatek – N/A.

GK – Amy Martinez – 5/10 – He had nothing to do.

Right back – Nahuel Molina – 7/10 – A fine cross from the right led to the opening goal.

Center back – Christian Romero – 5/10 – She handled the small threat Liwa posed quite well.

Center back – Nicholas Otamendi – 5/10 – An easy night in Otamendi’s office.

Left back – Marcos Acuna – 6/10 – He drilled a long shot in the first half and advanced well.

cm – Alexis Mac Allister – 8/10 – He scored his first international goal in the best possible time.

CM – Enzo Fernandez – 7/10 – Another great performance from the young man.

Midfielder – Rodrigo De Paul – 4/10 – Sloppy on the ball again. He definitely shouldn’t be starting for this team.

Right winger – Angel Di Maria – 5/10 – I saw a lot of the ball but didn’t do much with it.

CF – Lionel Messi – 4/10 – I missed a penalty. He is not good at penalty kicks.

Left back – Julian Alvarez – 5/10 – He scored a great goal in the second half. A well deserved start for the Manchester City striker.

SUB – Leandro Paredes – 6/10 – He did a decent job in midfield when he came on.

SUB – Nicolas Tagliafico – N/A.

SUB – Lautaro Martinez – 5/10 – Wasted a decent opportunity in the 85th minute.

SUB – German Pezzella – N/A.

SUB – Thiago Almada – N/A.

Man of the match: Alexis McAllister

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