Fifa World Cup: Group C
The 32 teams at the world cup are split into 8 groups of 4 teams in each group we see one team ranked between 1-8 in the FIFA ranking Qatar is an exception as host. The rest of the qualified teams are placed in pots to be drawn in according to their rankings and are drawn into groups 1:Team Hosts or teams ranked between 1-8 in the FIFA rankings 1:Team ranked between 8-16 in the FIFA rankings 1:Team ranked between 16-24 in the FIFA rankings 1:Team ranked below 24 and higher in the FIFA rankings Ex a team ranked at no 10 will be placed in pot 2 which features the top 8-16 ranked teams Group C features Argentina Saudi Arabia Poland and Mexico Who is expected to top the group? Argentina is expected to top the group as the South American Champions expect to cruise through this group. Group C matches Argentina kick's off their World Cup against Saudi Arabia Meanwhile, Poland play's Mexico Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina to produce the first major shock of the World Cup and throw Group C wide open. Considered among the favorites for tournament victory, Argentina struck early on as Lionel Messi converted from the penalty spot after Leandro Paredes had been dragged down, a goal that appeared to set them on their way to a comfortable opening victory and extend their 38-game unbeaten run. But Lionel Scaloni’s side was thrice denied by the offside flag as they struggled to beat the Saudi Arabian offside trap and, after the break, were seemingly helpless as their opponents struck twice in five minutes soon, first Saleh Alshehri firing a low left-footed effort into the far corner before Saleh Aldawsari produced a spectacular goal, twisting to create space on the edge of the box and curling home beautifully. Herve Renard’s team was resolute thereafter, with goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais and center-half Hassan Altambakti particularly impressive to deny Messi & Co. as Saudi Arabia held firm to secure a famous victory. Poland 0-0 Mexico Guillermo Ochoa blocked a penalty by Robert Lewandowski as Mexico and Poland settled for a 0-0 draw in their FIFA World Cup 2022 Group C opener, at Stadium 974 in Qatar on Tuesday. Alexis Vega and Hirving Lozano were in brilliant form for Mexico but failed to find a late winner, as Poland defended deep through the match. Meanwhile, Lewandowski could have won the match for Poland after getting fouled in the box during the second half . But Ochoa was in his brilliant best to block the Poland captain's penalty. Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia they had faced each other four times prior to the tournament most recently in 2006, a 2–1 win for Poland in a friendly game.[17] Piotr Zielinski scored the opening goal for Poland in the 39th minute. At the end of the first half, Saleh Al-Sheri was fouled in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. However, Salem Al-Dawrasi's attempt was saved by Wojciech Szczęsny in the first minute of stoppage time. In the second half, an error by Abdullelah Al-Maki led to Robert Lewandowski scoring his first World Cup goal in the 82nd minute as Saudi Arabia were defeated by Poland 2–0. The result meant that Poland did not lose their two opening World Cup games for the first time since 1986. Argentina 2-0 Mexico they had played at FIFA World Cups three times. Argentina had won all three: a 6-3 group stage victory in 1930, 2-1 round of 16 win in 2006, and another round of 16 victory by 3-1 in 2010. After a goalless first half, Messi put Argentina into the lead in the 64th minute. [21] Enzo Fernandez made it 2–0 and secured the win in the 87th minute with a curled finish to the right corner of the net. Poland 0-2 Argentina The third matchday encounter between Poland and Argentina was the third time the two nations met in a FIFA World Cup. Wojciech Szczęsny made a penalty save in the first half to deny Lionel Messi, only to concede twice for the first time in this FIFA World Cup, when Argentina scored two goals in the second half, the first by Alexis Mac Allister with a low shot to the left corner and the second from Julían Alvarez with a shot to the top right corner as the Argentines won 2–0, topping the group with two wins. Despite this, Poland would eventually join Argentina in the last sixteen thanks to a superior goal difference than Mexico. Saudi 1-2 Mexico Saudi Arabia and Mexico had met five previous times, most recently in 1999, a 5–1 win for Mexico at the 1999 FIFA Confederation's Cup. After a goalless first half, Mexico struck twice in the second half, first with a volley from a corner kick by Henry Martínin the 47th minute and then with a thunderous free kick by Luis Chávez in the 52nd minute. However, Mexico failed to find a third goal, which they needed to overtake Poland on goal difference – Mexico had received more yellow cards than Poland and would have been eliminated on this basis if the teams finished level on points, goal difference, and goals scored. Salem Al-Dawsari, however, scored in the 5th minute of added time with a goal after a one-two, which confirmed both teams' elimination from the tournament as Mexico claimed the 2–1 win. #Guy