Veterans Messi and Lewandowski in ultimate showdown
Argentine and Pole both know that victory will ensure at least one more game on global stage
Two of the most intimidating strikers in world football, Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland’s 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up against each other tonight (3am, Hong Kong time) with a last-16 place at stake in the World Cup.
Messi has scored twice in Argentina’s extraordinary start to the campaign, suffering one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history at the hands of Saudi Arabia before masterminding victory over Mexico.
The brilliant Argentine, whose team are one of the tournament favourites, is playing his fifth and final campaign, meaning it is his last chance to match Diego Maradona and lift the trophy for his longing homeland.
“We had to give everyone peace of mind to be able to approach the Poland game in a different way,” Messi said after the extraordinary pressure around the Mexico match.
With Argentina second in Group C on three points, one behind the Poles, they must win to be sure of progressing and keeping alive their dream of a third World Cup title.
A draw would be enough for the South Americans, too, if Mexico and Saudi Arabia also end level.
Like Messi, Lewandowski is also his nation’s all-time top scorer and is on possibly his last mission at a World Cup. He has been in sizzling form for Messi’s old club Barcelona and has also had an eventful start in Qatar.
Lewandowski uncharacteristically missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico before scoring his first ever World Cup goal in their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia. That reduced him to tears. “The older I get, the more emotional I get, and I’m aware that it might be my last World Cup actually,” Lewandowski said.
Poland, who have not reached the knockout stage since 1986, will go through with a win or draw against Argentina.
After their stunning win over the Argentines, the Saudis are still firmly in the mix in Group C.
In their five previous participations, Saudi Arabia have qualified for the round of 16 only once, on their debut at the tournament in 1994.
If Saudi Arabia want to progress they will have to beat Mexico (also 3am, Hong Kong time), regardless of the outcome of the match between Poland and Argentina.
A draw would mean they need Poland to beat Argentina, while a defeat would make the permutations complicated, as they would need to lose by only one goal while hoping that Poland win their match by a bigger margin.
“No one around the world thought that we could play with this level. Yes, in Saudi Arabia we know the players well, but they are unknown to the fans around the world,” Saudi coach Herve Renard said. “We are still alive.”
The older I get, the more emotional I get, and I’m aware that it might be my last World Cup
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI