2022 World Cup Preview, Argentina Vs Poland: Duel 2 Death Striker

Lionel Messi (Twitter @Seleccion)

JAKARTA - Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni fully trusts the 26 players in his squad, both those who play and have to wait to play from the bench.

Based on this belief, Scaloni emphasized that the change in the line-up was more related to the opponent than the quality factor of the players.

Scaloni was heavily criticized domestically Argentina for being contributed 1-2 by Saudi Arabia after questioning the decision not to use the skills of midfielder Juventus Leandro Paredes.

"Leandro is always with us. He's always involved, just because he doesn't play doesn't mean we don't trust him," Scaloni told reporters.

He estimated the match against Poland as a tough game because he was tough in defense but was also good at taking advantage of the slightest goal opportunity.

From what he said, Scaloni seemed to promise a fierce match against Poland, which was indeed the most interesting meeting in Group C because it faced the two most deadly strikers in the world who had both grown old.

Both are 35-year-old Lionel Messi and 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski. Both players were in their last World Cup so Qatar 2022 became their last chance to shine with their respective national teams.

Messi himself has scored two goals in the 2022 World Cup, one of which inspires Argentina's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 after being scored 1-2 in the first match by Saudi Arabia.

Messi is playing his fifth and fifth World Cup finals with a mission to match the achievement of Diego Maradona the legend, namely lifting the world champion trophy.

"We have to give peace of mind to everyone so they can respond to the Polish game in a different way," Messi said.

Argentina is second in Group C with three points at a point below Poland. They must win to ensure their ambition to win the World Cup, all three of which can stay alive.

Even if the Argentina series can still qualify, on condition that Mexico's match against Saudi Arabia ends in a draw.

Like Messi, Lewandowski is also the country's all-time leading goalscorer, Poland.

He had performed brilliantly with Barcelona and had an important start in Qatar when he finally scored the World Cup goal as Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0.

His first goal in the World Cup finals left Lewandowski unable to hold back tears. "The older I am, the more emotional I am, and I know this may be my last World Cup," said Lewandowski.

Poland, which has not reached the knockout stage since the last time it did so at the 1986 World Cup was enough to hold Argentina to qualify for the last 16.

Predictions of the first eleven players

Poland (4-4-2): Wojciech Szczesny; live Cash, Kamil Glik, Jakub Kiwior, Bartosz Bereszynski; Piotr Zielinski, Kystian Bielik, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Przemyslaw Frankowski; Arkadiusz Milik, Robert Lewandowski.

Argentina (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo de Paul; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria.

Important statistics of both teams

This is the third meeting between Poland and Argentina in a World Cup tournament. Poland won 3-2 in 1974 and Argentina won 2-0 four years later.

Argentina won six of the total 11 meetings between the two countries, while Poland won three of the last in a friendly in June 2011.

Poland has not conceded in their last three World Cup games, including the first two of the 2022 World Cup.

Poland won four of their first seven matches in the World Cup against South American teams, but lost their last three games without scoring a single goal.

Argentina lost their last two World Cup games against European countries, losing 0-3 to Croatia and 3-4 to France in 2018, respectively.

Poland will advance with at least a draw, while Argentina can also advance with a draw depending on the results of other group matches.