POLAND RATINGS: Wojciech Szczesny, 7 – The Juventus goalkeeper saved a penalty- his second already at this World Cup - from Lionel Messi and produced a handful of other top saves. Getty
POLAND RATINGS: Wojciech Szczesny, 7 – The Juventus goalkeeper saved a penalty- his second already at this World Cup - from Lionel Messi and produced a handful of other top saves. Getty
Matty Cash, 5 – Looked far too weak to his man for the second goal and outside of that, he was dragged out of position every few minutes. Getty Images
Matty Cash, 5 – Looked far too weak to his man for the second goal and outside of that, he was dragged out of position every few minutes. Getty Images
Kamil Glik, 6 – His desperate defending sometimes paid dividends but the veteran’s spatial awareness could use some work. AP Photo
Kamil Glik, 6 – His desperate defending sometimes paid dividends but the veteran’s spatial awareness could use some work. AP Photo
Jakub Kiwior, 4 – Stood watching for the first goal and had a crazy rest of the game featuring a big block off the line and a terrible back pass. AFP
Jakub Kiwior, 4 – Stood watching for the first goal and had a crazy rest of the game featuring a big block off the line and a terrible back pass. AFP
DF Bartosz Bereszynski, 4 – Played Argentina onside for the opening goal and showed an incredible lack of composure throughout. AP Photo
DF Bartosz Bereszynski, 4 – Played Argentina onside for the opening goal and showed an incredible lack of composure throughout. AP Photo
Piotr Zielinski, 5 – Was left chasing shadows and was unable to really influence the overall attacking flow - of which there was precious little. AFP
Piotr Zielinski, 5 – Was left chasing shadows and was unable to really influence the overall attacking flow - of which there was precious little. AFP
Krystian Bielik, 5 – Was dispossessed far too easily in midfield and went missing in challenges far, far too often. Getty Images
Krystian Bielik, 5 – Was dispossessed far too easily in midfield and went missing in challenges far, far too often. Getty Images
Grzegorz Krychowiak, 5 – Picked up a silly yellow card, struggled to command respect in the middle of the park and was fairly drab. AP Photo
Grzegorz Krychowiak, 5 – Picked up a silly yellow card, struggled to command respect in the middle of the park and was fairly drab. AP Photo
Przemyslaw Frankowski, 6 – While he stands himself up well under pressure, Frankowski continually dropped off his man and left gaps. EPA
Przemyslaw Frankowski, 6 – While he stands himself up well under pressure, Frankowski continually dropped off his man and left gaps. EPA
Robert Lewandowski, 6 – The star Barcelona forward was completely boxed out of the match and was barely given a chance to shine. EPA
Robert Lewandowski, 6 – The star Barcelona forward was completely boxed out of the match and was barely given a chance to shine. EPA
Karol Swiderski, 4 – Hardly touched the ball, offered nothing in the final third. AFP
Karol Swiderski, 4 – Hardly touched the ball, offered nothing in the final third. AFP
Jakub Kaminski, 5 – His build-up play over the half-way line was solid but the lack of an end product hurt his overall game. AFP
Jakub Kaminski, 5 – His build-up play over the half-way line was solid but the lack of an end product hurt his overall game. AFP
Damian Szymanski, 5 – Stood watching for the second goal and offered very little going forward. Reuters
Damian Szymanski, 5 – Stood watching for the second goal and offered very little going forward. Reuters
Michal Skoras, 6 – Won a nice free kick and that was really all she wrote from yet another unforgettable cameo. Getty Images
Michal Skoras, 6 – Won a nice free kick and that was really all she wrote from yet another unforgettable cameo. Getty Images
Artur Jedrzejczyk, N/A – Did very little of note outside of a few shuffles off of the ball under Argentine pressure. AFP
Artur Jedrzejczyk, N/A – Did very little of note outside of a few shuffles off of the ball under Argentine pressure. AFP
Krzysztof Piatek, N/A – An uneventful performance as he never really got on the ball upon being introduced. AFP
Krzysztof Piatek, N/A – An uneventful performance as he never really got on the ball upon being introduced. AFP
ARGENTINA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 6 - Kept a 15th clean sheet in his past 18 Argentina games. Poland were so disappointing they didn’t have a shot on target. Getty
ARGENTINA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 6 - Kept a 15th clean sheet in his past 18 Argentina games. Poland were so disappointing they didn’t have a shot on target. Getty
Nahuel Molina 7 - Alert to cross quickly for the opening goal after he overlapped with Messi and pulled the ball back. It was the final ball they’d missed in the first half. AFP
Nahuel Molina 7 - Alert to cross quickly for the opening goal after he overlapped with Messi and pulled the ball back. It was the final ball they’d missed in the first half. AFP
Cristian Romero - 7 The centre-half stepped up in front of the 44,089 crowd. Intercepted well when he needed to. AFP
Cristian Romero - 7 The centre-half stepped up in front of the 44,089 crowd. Intercepted well when he needed to. AFP
Nicolas Otamendi 7 - Comfortable against the tired Poles. Argentina had 73% of possession and complete control of the game. AFP
Nicolas Otamendi 7 - Comfortable against the tired Poles. Argentina had 73% of possession and complete control of the game. AFP
Marcos Acuna 7 - Shot across the face of the goal on 28 minutes with a sweet left foot shot. Booked for a poor tackle and subbed. AFP
Marcos Acuna 7 - Shot across the face of the goal on 28 minutes with a sweet left foot shot. Booked for a poor tackle and subbed. AFP
Rodrigo De Paul 7 - Dominated and created chances, yet unconvincing at the same time. Fantastic tackle after 51. Far more touches than any other player. AFP
Rodrigo De Paul 7 - Dominated and created chances, yet unconvincing at the same time. Fantastic tackle after 51. Far more touches than any other player. AFP
Enzo Fernandez 8 - Debut game in the World Cup finals for the 21-year-old after he scored against Saudi Arabia. Set up the second goal down the middle. EPA
Enzo Fernandez 8 - Debut game in the World Cup finals for the 21-year-old after he scored against Saudi Arabia. Set up the second goal down the middle. EPA
Alexis Mac Allister 8 - Scored his first international goal to put Argentina ahead, a low strike into the corner. Worked hard, lots of running. Fine season for his club with Brighton and now for his country. AP Photo
Alexis Mac Allister 8 - Scored his first international goal to put Argentina ahead, a low strike into the corner. Worked hard, lots of running. Fine season for his club with Brighton and now for his country. AP Photo
Angel Di Maria 7 - Effective down the right and had a couple of shots on target too in his 127th game for his country. AFP
Angel Di Maria 7 - Effective down the right and had a couple of shots on target too in his 127th game for his country. AFP
Lionel Messi 9 - A record 22nd World Cup appearance for Argentina. Won a soft penalty on 37 minutes which was brilliantly saved by the superb Szczesny. Six attempts on target, quick feet and excellent passing throughout, but no goals. EPA
Lionel Messi 9 - A record 22nd World Cup appearance for Argentina. Won a soft penalty on 37 minutes which was brilliantly saved by the superb Szczesny. Six attempts on target, quick feet and excellent passing throughout, but no goals. EPA
Julian Alvarez 7 - Looked like he’d scored after 28 minutes but his shot was blocked. A second shot by the Manchester City striker was saved on 35. Doubled the lead on 67, an excellent finish. Should have scored on 73 when he shot into side netting, but impressive. AP Photo
Julian Alvarez 7 - Looked like he’d scored after 28 minutes but his shot was blocked. A second shot by the Manchester City striker was saved on 35. Doubled the lead on 67, an excellent finish. Should have scored on 73 when he shot into side netting, but impressive. AP Photo
SUBS: Leandro Paredes 6 - On for Di Maria after 59 mins for an easy run against the lethargic Poles. AFP
SUBS: Leandro Paredes 6 - On for Di Maria after 59 mins for an easy run against the lethargic Poles. AFP
Nicolas Tagliafico 7 - On for Acuna after 59 mins, the Lyon left-back surged forward and came close to scoring his first international goal. EPA
Nicolas Tagliafico 7 - On for Acuna after 59 mins, the Lyon left-back surged forward and came close to scoring his first international goal. EPA
German Pezzella NA - the Betis central defender came on for Fernandez after 79 mins. Getty
German Pezzella NA - the Betis central defender came on for Fernandez after 79 mins. Getty
Lautaro Martinez NA - On for Alvarez after 79 mins, Argentina’s other Martinez started the first two games but came off the bench for this win. Dragged an excellent shot wide after a terrible Polish back pass. EPA
Lautaro Martinez NA - On for Alvarez after 79 mins, Argentina’s other Martinez started the first two games but came off the bench for this win. Dragged an excellent shot wide after a terrible Polish back pass. EPA
Thiago Almada NA - On for Macallister after 83 mins, the 21-year-old became the first MLS player to play for Argentina in the World Cup finals. Reuters
Thiago Almada NA - On for Macallister after 83 mins, the 21-year-old became the first MLS player to play for Argentina in the World Cup finals. Reuters

World Cup

Poland vs Argentina player ratings: Lewandowski 6, Szczesny 7; Messi 9, Mac Allister 8

Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez secure 2-0 win for Argentina and sets up World Cup last-16 showdown with Australia

Harry Kettle
Andy Mitten

December 01, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Lionel Messi missed a first half penalty but Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez scored in a 2-0 victory over Poland at Stadium 974 on Wednesday as both teams booked their places in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Argentina's victory moved Lionel Scaloni's side to the top of Group C and they will face Australia in the last-16 while second-placed Poland, who qualified on goal difference after Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1, take on reigning champions France.

Argentina took the lead just one minute into the second half when Mac Allister got on the end of Nahuel Molina's cross and, despite making weak contact, he saw his shot creep over the line with Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny beaten.

The goal was just reward for Argentina who had dominated possession while Poland had barely managed to get out of their own half, with the South American side's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez a mere spectator for the majority of the game.

The second goal was the result of some patient buildup where Argentina knocked the ball around before Enzo Fernandez unlocked the defence with a through-ball for Alvarez, who found space in the box and smashed it into the top corner.

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Updated: December 01, 2022, 5:17 AM
World CupArgentinaPolandLionel Messi