This is Lionel Messi’s last chance for glory. The disappointment of 2014 is not easily washed away. All of Argentina and most of the world think he deserves the cup. We also thought that Michel Platini, Rudd Gullit, Roberto Baggio, Zico and Socrates deserved it as well. There is no guarantee that great players will lift the cup.
Unlike past Argentine sides who expected Messi to deliver the cup we have a group that wants to deliver the cup to him. This is one of the greatest assets he has going into this tournament with. They have played 35 games unbeaten – a remarkable feat.
Date
Match
Time (ET)
Stadium
Tues, Nov 22
Argentina vs S Arabia
6 am
Lusail Stadium
Tues, Nov 22
Mexico vs Poland
12 noon
Stadium 974
Sat, Nov 26
Poland vs S Arabia
9 am
Education City Stadium
Sat, Nov 26
Argentina vs Mexico
3 pm
Lusail Stadium
Wed, Nov 30
Poland vs Argentina
3 pm
Stadium 974
Wed, Nov 30
S Arabia vs Mexico
3 pm
Lusail Stadium
Argentina
This side has all it takes to conquer the world. The title jinx was broken and now they are ready to lift the cup.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 3 (November, 2022)
World Cup titles: 2
World Cup appearances – 17
How qualified: CONMEBOL World Cup Qualification runners-up: 11W-0L-6D
Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) since August 2018
Key players: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain of France), Angel Di Maria (Juventus of Italy), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid of Spain)
They have such a deep bench in all areas and the defence has held against Brazil at home and in a final. So, this can be the year.
Poland
Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in the world but he will need the service to get the goals. Poland are a good team but, in this tournament, you will need a great team to progress. If they can overcome Mexico they will progress.
Current FIFA world ranking: No. 26 (November, 2022)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances – 8
How qualified: UEFA playoff winners: (2-0 vs. Sweden)
Coach: Czeslaw Michniewicz (Poland) since January, 2022
They can depend upon: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona of Spain), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli of Italy), Matty Cash (Aston Villa of England) to help them through this group.
Mexico
The former powerhouse of CONCACAF is a shadow of the teams of the past but maybe a World Cup can bring out their best. Recently they have had issues scoring goals as do many of our regional teams. I hope they can progress out of the group but will have to fight Poland for that honour.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 13 (November, 2022)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances -16
How qualified: (CONCACAF qualifying runners-up: 7W-2L-4D
Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentina) since January, 2019
Players of note include Raul Jimenez (Wolves of England), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo of USA), Hirving Lozano (Napoli of Italy) but they will need goals to progress so let’s hope they find those goals.
Saudi Arabia
This side may well be the whipping boys of the group. They have to be careful not to concede too many. The other teams will hope to use this them to get their goal difference up.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 51 (November 2022)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances – 6
How qualified: AFC Third Round Group B runners-up 7W-1L-2D)
Coach: Herve Renard (France) since July, 2019
Key players: Saleh Al Shehri (Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia), Salman Al Faraj (Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia)
Group C: Messi’s Last Chance
By Gerald Lutchman
THE GOAT needs the gold.
This is Lionel Messi’s last chance for glory. The disappointment of 2014 is not easily washed away. All of Argentina and most of the world think he deserves the cup. We also thought that Michel Platini, Rudd Gullit, Roberto Baggio, Zico and Socrates deserved it as well. There is no guarantee that great players will lift the cup.
Unlike past Argentine sides who expected Messi to deliver the cup we have a group that wants to deliver the cup to him. This is one of the greatest assets he has going into this tournament with. They have played 35 games unbeaten – a remarkable feat.
Argentina
This side has all it takes to conquer the world. The title jinx was broken and now they are ready to lift the cup.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 3 (November, 2022)
Key players: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain of France), Angel Di Maria (Juventus of Italy), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid of Spain)
They have such a deep bench in all areas and the defence has held against Brazil at home and in a final. So, this can be the year.
Poland
Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in the world but he will need the service to get the goals. Poland are a good team but, in this tournament, you will need a great team to progress. If they can overcome Mexico they will progress.
Current FIFA world ranking: No. 26 (November, 2022)
They can depend upon: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona of Spain), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli of Italy), Matty Cash (Aston Villa of England) to help them through this group.
Mexico
The former powerhouse of CONCACAF is a shadow of the teams of the past but maybe a World Cup can bring out their best. Recently they have had issues scoring goals as do many of our regional teams. I hope they can progress out of the group but will have to fight Poland for that honour.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 13 (November, 2022)
Players of note include Raul Jimenez (Wolves of England), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo of USA), Hirving Lozano (Napoli of Italy) but they will need goals to progress so let’s hope they find those goals.
Saudi Arabia
This side may well be the whipping boys of the group. They have to be careful not to concede too many. The other teams will hope to use this them to get their goal difference up.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 51 (November 2022)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances – 6
How qualified: AFC Third Round Group B runners-up 7W-1L-2D)
Coach: Herve Renard (France) since July, 2019
Key players: Saleh Al Shehri (Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia), Salman Al Faraj (Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia)