DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Robert Lewandowski left the sphere with an enormous smile on his face after blowing kisses to followers and hugging teammates.You’d by no means know his group simply misplaced a vital World Cup recreation 2-0 to Argentina.However Poland scraped into the knockout levels of the match, regardless of Wednesday’s loss to the South American champions, after Salem Aldawsari’s stoppage-time aim for Saudi Arabia in a 2-1 defeat to Mexico.That late aim ensured Poland completed as runner-up in Group C, forward of Mexico on aim distinction, to arrange a final 16 recreation in opposition to France on Sunday.“You’ll be able to say it’s a cheerful defeat,” mentioned Lewandowski, who didn’t also have a shot on course. “I’m not pleased with the best way we performed. After all not. We are able to’t be pleased with the sport itself.”Poland had been totally outplayed by Argentina with Lewandowski an ineffective remoted determine as his group was pegged again at some stage in the sport. Argentina had 24 makes an attempt at aim, 13 on course. Poland had three, none on course.“We didn’t wish to take any threat and, , we achieved our end result as a result of we reached the subsequent spherical,” Lewandowski mentioned with a smile. “Regardless that we misplaced, we may be glad.”Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz mentioned his group’s lack of attacking menace wasn’t Lewandowski’s fault.“I’m not attacking anybody from the group, however we didn’t assist him to attain,” Michniewicz mentioned. “If (Lionel) Messi performed for us and Robert performed for Argentina, Robert would have scored 5 objectives. Robert wanted to get help and the match was performed in our half. There have been so many gamers overlaying him.”Poland had goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to thank for a string of saves — together with a first-half penalty from Messi — and Karol Swiderski for a goal-line clearance that averted a heavier defeat.But Poland’s gamers celebrated like they’d gained, spraying one another with water bottles on the sphere.It had been an anxious wait.Poland’s recreation completed however Mexico was main Saudi Arabia 2-0 and desperately pushing for the third aim that will have been sufficient to progress at Poland’s expense.Each Poland and Mexico had 4 factors, with two objectives scored and two objectives conceded every at that second. Poland solely had the sting by having fewer yellow playing cards than Mexico’s gamers.Poland defender Bartosz Bereszynski lined his face. He couldn’t bear the strain.Then Aldawsari scored for Saudi Arabia to finish Mexico’s hopes.“I assume it’s the primary time I felt you may be glad after a loss,” Lewandowski mentioned.The Poland star is already waiting for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to France.“It’s one other favourite to win the world championship and we’ve nothing to lose,” he mentioned. “We all know what sort of gamers they’ve however we now have to get pleasure from it and do our greatest. We’ve got to combat … France will probably be an enormous problem and we now have to play higher than as we speak.”___