When the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 begins in a few days, Lionel Messi and Argentina, the two-time champions, will be vying for their first and final World Cup victory.
Many anticipate that Argentina, which was placed in Group C with Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland, will win the group and advance to play the Group D runners-up.
Then the real question comes – who will advance along with Argentina from Group C?
Have fun reviewing movies and drinks
Mexico and Poland are the most likely contenders, but Saudi Arabia – playing in the first ever FIFA World Cup in the region – can’t be underestimated.
Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni is no stranger to World Cup, having represented the country at the 2006 tournament where the La Albiceleste were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
During his reign, Messi was able to finally lift the Copa America trophy in 2021, as Argentina are out to go further than they did in Russia four years ago.
The 1978 and 1986 winners were only able to reach the Round of 16 in 2018.
This season, Messi has been in immaculate form, scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists in 18 matches for PSG and fans in Qatar as well as all over the world can expect something special from the veteran star. Universally regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game, the former Barcelona man has already announced that Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup – and the 35-year-old will be looking to secure the biggest prize of his playing career.
Coach Scaloni, however, doesn’t believe Qatar will be Messi’s last World Cup.
“Hopefully it won’t be Messi’s last World Cup,” Scaloni has said recently.
“He is happy on the pitch and makes a lot of people happy. If we take care of him and bring him the way we have to bring him, there could possibly be more games from him because the world of football is asking for it.”
It is no secret that Argentina depend heavily on the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, but this time Scaloni has an abundance of arsenal at his disposal.
Before last year’s Copa America title, Messi’s biggest title win with Argentina was the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, where they beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final. The winning goal was scored by Angel de Maria, who is expected to play a crucial role for Argentina in Qatar.
Di Maria was part of Argentina’s U20 World Cup winning team in 2007, but has been under Messi’s shadow.
The fast-paced Lautaro Martinez is also a key player who has emerged as a favourite to occupy Argentina’s front line and is set to relieve Messi from some of his attacking burden. Defender Cristian Romero, and midfielder Rodgrigo de Paul, are also out to make things difficult for their opponents while Emiliano Martinez, their first-choice keeper is also expected to show what he can do.
Among the top favourites to advance from Group C, Poland are also keen to go higher this time after crashing out in the group stage in 2018.
Poland made the last 16 in 1986 but have failed to do so since then, but the Robert Lewandowski-powered Poland will try their best to enter the knockouts.
With Lewandowski in attack, Poland will always pose a threat and the Czesław Michniewicz-coached team stands a better chance this time with the likes of Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski and Juventus forward Arkadiusz Milik among their ranks.
Aston Villa defenders Jan Bednarek and Matty Cash, AS Roma’s Nicola Zalewski and their number one goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who has win 64 caps since his debut in 2009 will further strengthen the Polish line-up as they look to avoid another early exit.
On November 22, they will kick off their campaign against a strong Mexico team who are looking to secure a place in the knock-out stage.
The Gerardo Martino-coached Mexico are also in the hunt for a maiden World Cup title, but will have to be at their best just to advance to the next round. They have only made it to the round of 16 once. Currently ranked 13 in the FIFA World Rankings, El Tri would target top spot also because if they finish in second place, they may be on course for a clash against Group D winner in the round of 16 which will likely be the defending champions France.
Raul Jimenez is probably their biggest asset, but the Wolves forward will have to compensate to the voids of some of their most recognized player in the caliber of Carlos Vela or Javier Hernandez, as they were both left off of Martino’s squad. Also, Sevilla winger Jesus Corona was ruled out with an injury, putting put a lot of the attacking burden on Jimenez, who is recovering from an injury that has kept him out since September. With 29 goals through 94 caps for El Tri, the 31-year-old striker has been playing a key role for Mexico.
Andres Guardado, who is in Qatar for a remarkable fifth World Cup, is also among the most seasoned campaigners in the Mexican outfit, supported by Ajax’s Edson Alvarez and Hirving Lozano.
Meanwhile, the Herve Renard-coached Saudi Arabia are also no pushovers in the group. Their best finish came in 1994 when they advanced to the Round of 16. In Russia, The Falcons failed to go beyond the group stage, but The Falcons will be determined to pull off an upset despite being the third lowest ranked team in the tournament this time.
Captain Salman Al Faraj has performed to a consistently high standard in recent years, putting in a series of stellar displays for both his club Al-Hilal and the national team. Al Faraj’s presence in the middle of the pitch makes a huge difference in Renard’s plans and has made the squad despite suffering a shoulder injury in a friendly match last week.
“With regard to Salman, we were terrified when he fell and was unable to complete the game, I believe like other Saudi fans. In a video broadcast by the Saudi national team on their official page, Renard said, “He has something in the shoulder, there is pain but it will be okay in few days.
Salem Al Dawsari and Saleh Al Shehri are two further important Saudi players.
Making it out of the group stage this time would be a big improvement for Saudi Arabia, who only scored two goals at the 2018 World Cup and ended third in its group after falling to Russia 5-0 in the tournament’s opening match.
