Lionel Messi and Argentina are in a must-win situation when they face Poland in their final match in Group C. Messi is looking to win his first World Cup in what looks certain to be his last appearance at the tournament, and a stage exit for one of the group-favorites would prove to be a major upset.
Only a win will ensure the Albiceleste progress to the next round. A draw could work depending on the result between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, while a loss would see Argentina suffer a group-stage exit.
Poland is one point ahead of Argentina going into the final day and they have two results that will see them into the knockouts: a win or a draw. They could qualify with a loss if tiebreakers go their way.
The game will see the two stars go head-to-head in what could be the last World Cup for one of them: 35-year-old Messi takes on 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, who scored the first World Cup goal of his career. Cup goal against Saudi Arabia.
Argentina vs Poland Live Score
| Team | 1H | 2H | Final |
| Argentina | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Poland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals
ARG — Mac Allister – 46 min
ARG — Alvarez 68 – min
Confirmed lineups:
Argentina (4-2-3-1, right to left):
23. e. Martinez (GK) — — 26-Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 8. Akuna – 7. De Paul, 24. Fernandez — 11. Di Maria, 10. Messi, 20. McAllister — 9. Alvarez
Poland (4-4-2, right to left):
1. Szczesny (GK) — 2. Cash, 15. Glick, 14. Kiwior, 18. Bereszinsky — 20. Zielinski, 6. Bilic, 10. Krychovic, 24. Frankowski – 16. Swiderski, 9. Lewandowski
Argentina vs Poland Live Update, 2022 World Cup Highlights
Full-time : The result here had long been decided, with Argentina recording a comfortable win in the end to clinch top spot in Group C and set up a round of 16 tie with Australia. Poland, meanwhile, are left to await the result of Mexico’s game against Saudi Arabia, where another Mexico goal in the final moments will see them take the lead.
And Saudi Arabia just scored, which means Poland are through to the Round of 16, where they will play France!
90+3 min: Poland are saved by Jakub Kiwier in the area, only for Nicolas Tagliafico to clip a shot past Wojciech Szczesny to turn the covering central defender and head off the line.
90 mins: Here are six more minutes. It’s hard to see Poland scoring, but Argentina also seem to be taking their foot off the gas.
86 min: Big moment! Jakub Kiwior’s pass is cut out by Lautaro Martinez but, with the goal at his mercy, the substitute drags his shot wide! It could beat Poland.
The given video is available in US
Argentina nearly had a third pic.twitter.com/imLwpRjxpq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
84 min: One last throw of the dice for Poland with striker Krzysztof Pietek replacing midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak for the final stages.
The given video is available in US
👏🇦🇷 @MLS‘s 2022 Newcomer of the Year Thiago Almada enters the game for Argentina pic.twitter.com/Ct9X8a95rc
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
And a bit of Argentine history arrived when Thiago Almada became the first MLS player to represent his country at the World Cup.
81 min: Nahuel Molina has been a useful outlet for Argentina on the right in this second half, although newcomer Lautaro Martinez wanted an early cross there and had no luck.
78 min: Grzegorz Krychowiak goes into the book to pull back Alexis McAllister. A reminder that Poland is currently moving up in the Fair Play rankings…
75 min: Poland has offered almost nothing in the way of an attacking force so far tonight, and another goal for Argentina or Mexico in the closing stages will surely end their World Cup 2022 involvement.
73 min: Argentina gets in again after Lionel Messi sets up Julian Alvarez on the right, but he can’t find the target, firing high into the side netting from an angle.
71 min: Lionel Messi could have put it to bed there as he comes in with a cross from the left, but he fails to connect properly and Wojciech Szczesny blocks his body.
Goal! 68 min: Of course, Argentina has won! Great finish by Julian Alvarez, collecting Enzo Fernandez’s pass and firing low into the corner of the net!
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TWO FOR ARGENTINA 🇦🇷
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
Things are getting WILD in Group C 🤯 pic.twitter.com/987rv6nP8K
And it’s a goal that puts Poland on the edge! As it stands, they are still in second place, but only in disciplinary points they are level with Mexico on points, goal difference and goals scored.
66 min: Poland are written again. For all their substitutions, they have neither served nor supported Robert Lewandowski.
62 min: Another change for Poland, Damian Szymanski replacing Christian Bielik. Poland needs to turn the tide and quickly.
61 min: Argentina look for what will surely be the decisive second goal, Lionel Messi playing in Nicolas Tagliafico down the left and crossing the option for goalkeeper Alexis McAllister, whose shot is straight at Wojciech Szczesny.
59 min: Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Paredes, Marcos Acuna and Angel Di Maria are substituted for Argentina.
56 min: Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi both have shots blocked, we hear Mexico now lead 2-0 in Saudi Arabia. Poland’s cushion has dropped to one goal.
55 min: Poland have certainly shown more adventure after falling behind, although the flipside is that there is a growing gap on the break for Argentina to exploit.
52 min: That goal means Argentina progress as Group C winners, with Poland in second place. And there’s news from another game, where Mexico took the lead. This bodes well for Poland, whose position nevertheless remains precarious.
50 min: And from a free-kick, Piotr Zielinski zips the ball into the area where Kamil Glik’s head meets it, his effort deflecting off Emiliano Martinez’s right-hand post.
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Poland was this close to leveling the score 👀🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/weHQLvXM9L
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
49 min: Marcos Acuna is the first player in the book this evening, for a foul on Michael Scoros.
Goal! 46 min: We’ve scored, but it’s down to Argentina! It’s Alex Ma Alistair who delivers, meeting Nahuel Molina’s fine cutback with a low finish into the far corner!
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THERE IT IS 🔥
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
ARGENTINA TAKES THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/8uDkGnC5Tt
46 mins: We’re back with a double change for Poland, with Jakub Kaminski and Michal Skoras coming on for Przemislav Frankowski and Karol Swiderski.
Halftime: It’s the end of a dominating first half with Argentina barely able to find a breather. Poland finished second to their rivals as group winners, but a goal in any game changes everything.
45 mins: Three more minutes to add to the end of this half. The Argentina fans are still in full voice, though they must be wondering how their side isn’t ahead.
44 min: Threatening turn from Angel Di Maria, the Juventus winger coming in from the right on the left foot, but his low shot is straight at the goalkeeper’s throat.
43 min: Argentina continues to press, Julian Alvarez’s shot is beaten by Wojciech Szczesny, who is lucky the rebound lands in his arms.
39 mins: Penalty saved! Lionel Messi looking to score in Argentina’s seventh game in a row. He shoots the ball to the left of Wojciech Szczesny but the keeper guesses right and fires the ball full length. What a save!
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MESSI’S PENALTY IS SAVED BY SZCZESNY 😱 pic.twitter.com/nfEN63uaqv
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
38 min: Penalty to Argentina! Danny McAleley visits the VAR review area and decides that the goalkeeper’s challenge on Lionel Messi deserves a penalty kick!
36 min: Wojciech Szczesny makes a good save to deny Julian Alvarez from Alexis McAllister’s cross, but the Argentine recycles possession, the ball bouncing past goalkeeper Lionel Messi.
33 min: Angel Di Maria nearly catches Wojciech Szczesny out on the right wing, the goalkeeper touching his cross-shot at full stretch.
32 min: Robert Lewandowski is incredibly isolated here. Completely feeding off scraps, with service and support nothing like good enough.
29 min: It’s as close as Argentina gets. Julian Alvarez’s shot is blocked but Marcos Acuna – who has never scored for his country – latches onto the loose ball and fires just wide of the post from the edge of the area.
27 min: Poland can’t get out now. They’ve got everyone back inside their own half and a no-out ball means there’s no way to ease the pressure.
24 min: Argentina has pinned Poland again but is finding it hard to get any ground due to the weight of numbers.
21 min: Poland look to have weathered the early Argentina storm, though they are looking to get more service from Robert Lewandowski.
17 mins: Wonderful pass from Lionel Messi to play Marcos Acuna down the left. The Argentine midfield cut back onto his left foot, but couldn’t keep the shot down.
15 min: Enzo Fernandez, leading the Argentina counter, intercepts Piotr Zielinski’s square pass. He tries to find Julian Alvarez in the box, but his pass is too heavy.
13 min: It’s been a quick start from Argentina, but if Poland can win the ball they have plenty of space at the back. Well, an open start for this game.
10 min: Another Lionel Messi shot, this time from the left side on his left foot; Again Wojciech Szczesny is equal to it, stopping at his near post.
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Messi gets a shot on goal but Szczęsny comes up with the save!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
Argentina continues to put the pressure on 👀 pic.twitter.com/aLcEUgGKkk
7 min: Lionel Messi loses the ball on the edge of the Poland area but wins it back. He tries a right-footed shot after the defenders close in, but Wojciech Szczesny is able to make an easy save.
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Messi wins it back and gets his first shot of the game off for Argentina 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/4wa5e1DBj8
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
5 min: A good chance for Poland now, Robert Lewandowski doing well on the right of the penalty area and getting the ball back for Christian Bielik, who fails to make a clean connection and the shot is blocked.
3 min: They get off to a positive start in a pro-Argentina atmosphere, winning an early corner. Lionel Messi doesn’t beat the first man but Argentina regain possession and Nicolas Otamendi gets a chance to head at the far post which he fires wide.
Kickoff: Poland get us started. A quick reminder of the Group C scenario; Poland is one point ahead of both Argentina and Saudi Arabia. The European team will advance with a draw, while Argentina need a win to reach the last 16. If there is a tie, both will pass and Saudi Arabia-Mexico will also end all square.
5 minutes from kickoff: The teams are in the tunnel, and Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski lead them out onto the pitch. Kickoff is just moments away.
Argentina vs Poland lineup, team news
Manager Lionel Scaloni has reinstated right-back Nahuel Molina and central defender Cristian Romero, who were both left out of the defeat to Saudi Arabia but returned to the starting XI to face Poland.
Enzo Fernandez got the start after scoring off the bench in the last match against Mexico, while Julian Alvarez was preferred ahead of Lautaro Martinez.
Argentina (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. e. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 8. Akuna – 7. De Paul, 24. Fernandez — 11 Di Maria, 10. Messi, 20. Mac Allister – 9. Alvarez
Poland were expected to go with a more conservative line-up against Argentina’s attacking firepower after lining up with two forwards in a 3-5-2 against Saudi Arabia, but in the event Feyenoord’s Sebastian Szymasnki and Wolfsburg’s Jakub Kaminski could be options to reinforce. At the back, both started on the bench.
Poland (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Szczesny (GK) — 2. Cash, 15. Glick, 14. Kiwior, 18. Bereszinsky — 20. Zielinski, 6. Bilic, 10. Krychovic, 24. Frankowski – 16. Swiderski, 9. Lewandowski
Argentina vs Poland Live Stream, TV Channel
This final Group C match will be played at Stadium 974. Here you can see all the action in some key global regions.
| Country | Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming |
| USA | Wed, Nov. 30 | 14:00 ET | Fox Universo | fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app, Universo Now, Peacock |
| Canada | Wed, Nov. 30 | 14:00 ET | TSN , RDS 1 (French) | TSN site/app, RDS app |
| UK | Wed, Nov. 30 | 19:00 GMT | BBC One | BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website |
| Australia | Thu, Dec. 1 | 06:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Thu, Dec. 1 | 00:30 IST | Sports18 | Voot, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | Thu, Dec. 1 | 03:00 HKT | Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) | Now TV |
| Malaysia | Thu, Dec. 1 | 03:00 MYT | Astro Arena 2 | Astro GO |
| Singapore | Thu, Dec. 1 | 03:00 SGT | StarHub FIFA World Cup, Singtel FIFA World Cup 141 | Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+, MeWatch |
| New Zealand | Thu, Dec. 1 | 08:00 NZDT | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW |