The 2022 World Cup was supposed to be Lionel Messi's finest achievement for Argentina—the competition in which he emerges from Diego Maradona's shadow for the national team—but so far, the 35-year-old has had a mixed reaction.
Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in its initial match, but then rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Mexico, with Messi scoring the first goal.
In Messi's fifth World Cup tournament, it means that Argentina still has a chance to go to the knockout rounds with just one game remaining in Group C.
Argentina is in second place in Group C with three points, one point behind group leader Poland. Argentina knows that a victory over Poland in its final match will guarantee its advancement.
The team, according to defender Lisandro Martinez, is only growing better, especially Messi.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Martinez added, "Everything boils down to details." "With Messi's goal, we witnessed it. The game (against Mexico) was close up to that point.
"We are aware of our potential. We are aware that we can play at a higher level and that we are still not at our best. However, we're trying, he continued.
Argentina will compete against a Poland squad led by Robert Lewandowski, a legendary striker who recently scored his first World Cup goal against Saudi Arabia.
Lewandowski, 34, who like Messi is his country's all-time leading scorer, missed a penalty in Poland's opening match, a dull 0-0 draw against Mexico, but made up for it by scoring the second goal in the team's 2-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia.
Lewandowski's manager for Argentina, Lionel Scaloni, praised him profusely and referred to him as a "great player."
As a football fan, Scaloni stated, "It will be a joy and pleasure to witness him up close." Is he comparable to Messi in ability? Just take pleasure in such a talented player. Why evaluate a player against another. That is ineffective.
After their epic triumph over Argentina, Saudi Arabia needs to defeat Mexico in order to advance to the round of 16, but a draw would necessitate Poland defeating Argentina.
Herve Renard, the head coach of Saudi Arabia, claimed that his team has already defied expectations.
"Nobody imagined we could play at this level anywhere in the globe. Although we in Saudi Arabia are familiar with the players, fans elsewhere in the world may not be, according to Renard, who spoke at a news conference following the Poland match. We are still breathing.
Mexico's chances are substantially thinner because they must defeat Saudi Arabia by a score of at least three goals and pray that Poland does not lose to Argentina.
Australia vs. Denmark: 10am ET
Tunisia vs. France: 10am ET
Poland vs. Argentina: 2pm ET
Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico: 2pm ET
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