Poland 0 Argentina 2 LIVE RESULT: Mac Allister and Alvarez FIRE Argentina into last-16 after Messi missed penalty
ARGENTINA have topped Group C with victory over Poland, who also make it into the last-16 by the skin of their teeth.
Lionel Messi missed a penalty in the first-half after a VAR intervened to send the referee over to the monitor.
After review, the man in the middle decided that Wojciech Szczesny impeded the forward, but the goalkeeper made up for his error and pulled off a fantastic save to deny Messi.
However, just moments after the restart, Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister fired his side into the lead.
Man City star Julian Alvarez netted a second to give the South Americans a comfortable lead.
At one point, Mexico and Poland were level on points, goals scored, goals against, and head-to-head record... So it was set to go to fair play (with Poland having the better record) to decide who proceed before a late Saudi Arabia goal secured qualification for Poland.
- Start time: 7pm UK
- TV: BBC One
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer
- Group C: LIVE TABLE
- Poland XI: Szczesny, Glik, Kiwior, Cash, Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Bielik, Frankowski, Swiderski, Lewandowski
- Argentina XI: Martinez, Romero, Otamendi, Molina, De Paul, Acuna, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Di Maria, Alvarez, Messi
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Poland starting XI
Lewandowski and Swiderski lead the line for Poland.
Poland XI: Szczesny, Glik, Kiwior, Cash, Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Bielik, Frankowski, Swiderski, Lewandowski
Player arrivals
Here’s the two main men arriving at the stadium ahead of kick off.
We’re expecting the official team news any minute now.
Fans
Stadium 974 is starting to fill up.
You can always count on the Argentina fans to bring a riot of colour with them whenever their team plays in the World Cup.
Argentina team news
Lionel Scaloni made a whopping five changes to the Argentina team that lost against Saudi Arabia to the one that started against Mexico so trying to second guess his line ups can be like trying to predict Pep Guardiola’s.
The real point of contention is with the full backs.
Any one of Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina and Juan Foyth could start at right back while Nicolas Tagliofico and Marcos Acuna are battling it out for a spot on the left.
Draw all the player’s names out of a hat and you might just guess the starting eleven tonight (apart from Messi, I think his spot in the team is safe).
Poland team news
Manager Czeslaw Michniewicz is expected to name the same starting eleven from Poland’s win over Saudi Arabia.
If that proves to be the case then Argentina’s deference will face the task of trying to keep both Arkadiusz Milik and Robert Lewandowski quiet up front.
Welcome to Stadium 974!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the World Cup Group C fixture between Poland and Argentina.
It’s still all to pay for in Group C after the first two rounds of matches have left first place separated from fourth by a margin of just 3 points.
Finishing top seems as though it will be particularly important in Group C as the runners up will face a daunting showdown with France in the last 16.
Poland are the team currently sitting at the summit of Group C having collected 4 points from their opening two games – a 0-0 draw with Mexico and a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
A victory for Robert Lewandowski and co will guarantee them a place in the last 16 as group winners where they would face Australia.
Argentina have recovered from their horror start to the tournament where they suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia, and a win tonight will most likely see La Albiceleste win the group.
Argentina emerged victorious from their must-win game against Mexico last time out as goals from Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez secured a 2-0 victory that kept the country’s World Cup dreams alive.
Loinel Scaloni’s side will finish top of Group C if they earn all three points against Poland and if Saudi Arabia fail to beat Mexico by a larger margin than Argentina managed four days ago.
There’s plenty on the line tonight!
