Lionel Messi has already come to Argentina’s rescue on the World Cup. He would possibly simply must do it over again.
One other emotionally charged night awaits Messi and the soccer-mad south American nation that worships him when Argentina meets Poland on Wednesday for a match with a lot on the road.
For Messi, who’s taking part in in probably his final World Cup. For Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, who may also be too outdated when soccer’s greatest match rolls up subsequent in 2026.
#SelecciónMayor ¡Nuevo día en la oficina! 😎
¡Vamos muchachos! 💪🇦🇷#TodosJuntos
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— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 28, 2022
And for the World Cup as an entire. As a result of who, actually, doesn’t need to see Messi — one of many sport’s biggest ever gamers — within the late phases of a match that’s heating up so properly. There are a number of permutations at play for the Group C finale: A win for the Argentines and they’re positive to advance, probably because the group winners. A draw, they usually can both end in second place behind Poland or be squeezed out by both Saudi Arabia or Mexico, who’re taking part in in a match happening concurrently.
A loss? Effectively, that simply doesn’t bear excited about for anybody related to Argentina. The crew wouldn’t simply be eradicated however humiliated. Messi would possibly by no means be seen within the Albiceleste’s sky blue-and-white jersey once more.
That state of affairs is an excessive amount of for Argentina followers to take. It’s why tears had been shed on the sphere, among the many technical employees and among the many fanbase after Messi scored the essential second-half purpose to set Argentina on its approach to a 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday. That victory meant Argentina bounced again from its stunning 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening match and now has a combating likelihood to avoiding a primary group-stage exit since 2002.
“Now one other World Cup has begun,” mentioned Messi, who will hope to attain for the third straight match at this World Cup and has netted 13 targets for Argentina in 2022 — already a career-high haul in a single calendar yr.
Considerations about Messi’s well being have dogged the seven-time world participant of the yr on the World Cup, ranging from when he educated alone for 2 days earlier than Argentina’s opening sport. He performed the complete 90 minutes in opposition to Saudi Arabia and in addition within the Mexico sport, which he completed in some discomfort after turning his ankle late on.
Messi later confirmed it was nothing severe. But it surely solely provides to the concerns in regards to the bodily wellbeing of a 35-year-old participant who’s clearly pacing himself throughout matches, choosing and selecting his moments to blow up into life.
Elsewhere, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni should resolve whether or not to stick with Lautaro Martinez, who has been nicely coated within the first two video games, or go together with one other striker in Julian Alvarez.
Likewise, has extremely rated younger midfielder Enzo Fernández finished sufficient to power his manner into the crew after a scoring cameo in its place in opposition to Mexico? And who will Scaloni decide at full again, having performed a unique proper again and left again in every of Argentina’s video games? As for Poland, a few of the weight is off the 34-year-old Lewandowski’s again after he lastly scored a purpose at a World Cup within the 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Now he’s trying to advance past the group stage for the primary time at a World Cup. Poland hasn’t finished so since 1986. Argentina followers can be cautious of the specter of Lewandowski, who rivals France’s Karim Benzema as the most effective striker on this planet. They’ll know, although, that they’ve a good larger icon in Messi, who continues — even within the twilight of his magnificent profession — to bend soccer video games to his will. Can he do it yet one more time?