Two of world soccer’s most harmful strikers, Lionel Messi, 35, of Argentina and Robert Lewandowski, 34, of Poland, sq. off in opposition to one another for a final 16 place on the World Cup on Wednesday.
Messi has scored twice in Argentina’s extraordinary begin to the marketing campaign, securing an emphatic victory over Mexico earlier than struggling one of many greatest upsets within the match’s historical past by the hands of Saudi Arabia.
The illustrious Argentina, whose workforce is among the match favourites, is enjoying his fifth and ultimate marketing campaign, which implies it’s his final likelihood to equal Diego Maradona and elevate the trophy for his much-desired homeland.
“We had to give everyone peace of mind to be able to look at the Poland game in a different way,” Messi stated after the extraordinary stress surrounding the Mexico match.
Argentina are second in Group C with three factors, one pole behind, they need to win to make sure progress and preserve alive their dream of a 3rd World Cup title.
A draw would additionally suffice for the South Americans if Mexico and Saudi Arabia additionally end stage.
‘Emotional’ Lewandowski
Like Messi, Lewandowski is his nation’s all-time prime scorer and might be on his final mission on the World Cup. He has been in positive type for Messi’s outdated membership Barcelona and has had a stellar begin in Qatar as properly.
Lewandowski unusually missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico earlier than scoring his first World Cup purpose in a 2–0 win over Saudi Arabia.
This diminished his tears.
Lewandowski stated, “The older I get, the more emotional I become and I know that this could actually be my last World Cup.”
Poland, which has not reached the knockout stage since 1986, will undergo with a win or a draw in opposition to Argentina.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
