Two of probably the most intimidating strikers in world soccer, Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland’s 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up towards one another on Wednesday with a final 16 place at stake within the World Cup.
Messi has scored twice in Argentina’s extraordinary begin to the marketing campaign, struggling one of many greatest upsets within the event’s historical past by the hands of Saudi Arabia earlier than masterminding a euphoric victory over Mexico.
The sensible Argentine, whose group are one of many event favourites, is enjoying his fifth and remaining marketing campaign, which means it’s his final probability to match Diego Maradona and raise the trophy for his longing homeland.
“We needed to give everybody peace of thoughts to have the ability to strategy the Poland recreation another way,” Messi mentioned after the extraordinary stress across the Mexico match.
With Argentina second in Group C on three factors, one behind the Poles, they need to win to make certain of progressing and protecting alive their dream of a 3rd World Cup title.
A draw could be sufficient for the South Individuals too if Mexico and Saudi Arabia additionally finish stage.
‘EMOTIONAL’ LEWANDOWSKI
Like Messi, Lewandowski can be his nation’s all-time prime scorer and is on probably his final mission at a World Cup. He has been in scorching type for Messi’s previous membership Barcelona and has additionally had an eventful begin in Qatar.
Lewandowski uncharacteristically missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico earlier than scoring his first-ever World Cup objective of their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
That diminished him to tears.
“The older I get, the extra emotional I get, and I’m conscious that it is likely to be my final World Cup truly,” mentioned Lewandowski
Poland, who haven’t reached the knockout stage since 1986, will undergo with a win or draw towards Argentina.