Argentina defeated Poland 2-0 to secure first place in Group C despite Lionel Messi’s missed penalty. On a dramatic evening, Poland advanced to the round of 16 ahead of Mexico due to a goal differential.
A second-place finish would have put Argentina against France in the round of 16, but goals from Alexis Mac Allister (46′) and Julian Alvarez (67′), scored after Wojciech Szczesny had saved a disputed Messi penalty, gave Argentina a well-deserved victory and moved them up to face Australia.
Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team was sensationally poised to advance on fair play points before Saudi Arabia’s stoppage-time goal in their 2-1 loss to Mexico, which kept Poland’s qualification in doubt until the very end.
