Messi and Argentina cruise past Poland into last 16

Argentina qualified for the next round after a very easy win over Poland. Argentina dominated the contest from start to finish and would have led at the interval had Messi's penalty not been saved by goalkeeper Szczesny. It was the 31st penalty the PSG man had missed in his career. Scaloni's side took the lead moments into the second period through Alexis Mac Allister and then Julian Alvarez got the second after 68 minutes. Poland never looked like scoring and the fact Mexico only beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 meant they progressed on goal difference.
Poland offered little attacking threat, with star striker Robert Lewandowski virtually anonymous throughout. Instead it was left to Szczesny to take centre stage for the Poles, denying Messi with two crucial early stops. First Messi wriggled clear of a pack of defenders before producing a shot that flew straight at the keeper. Then he found space to charge into the Polish box down the left, forcing Szczesny to make a save at his near post.
Argentina continued to create the better chances in the first half and Marcos Acuna flashed a shot wide after Alvarez had also gone close to breaking the deadlock. Szczesny had to scramble to stop Angel di Maria scoring direct from a corner, before the goalkeeper was again called into action to deny Alvarez.
Szczesny outdid himself when he dived to his left to stop Messi's penalty in the 39th minute. He still had more to do before the half-time whistle, punching away a shot from Alvarez before saving the follow-up from Rodrigo de Paul. There was nothing he could do when Mac Allister broke the deadlock less than a minute after the interval. Nahuel Molina charged down the right, then cut the ball back for Mac Allister to drill just beyond Szczesny's reach.
The goal forced Poland to show some belated attacking ambition and Kamil Glik headed just wide from a free-kick almost immediately after the restart. Argentina continued to go in search of more goals and Alvarez scored their second after combining well with Enzo Fernandez. Fernandez, making his first start for Argentina, picked out his team-mate, who held off a defender before lashing the ball past Szczesny.
Poland were still walking a tightrope with yellow cards potentially crucial to their chances of reaching the last 16. Grzegorz Krychowiak went into the book in the 83rd minute but a late goal for Saudi Arabia against Mexico saw the Poles safely through on goal difference.