Lionel Messi holds many records, including an inglorious one: no player before him missed two penalties in normal playing time at a World Cup.
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Szczesny very modestly: “I’m actually not a penalty killer”
3 HOURS AGO
“The strength of this team is that everyone who comes in delivers,” said Messi. “We’ve taken another step.”
Three things we noticed at Stadium 974.
1.) Szczesny is in the World Cup team
Wojciech Szczesny has been unlucky in the recent tournament history of the Polish national team: At the 2012 home European Championship he was sent off in the first group game against Greece in a 1-1 draw, at the European Championship 2016 he was injured in the first game against Northern Ireland (1-0 ). The World Cup in Russia two years later didn’t go much better either, after two defeats against Senegal (1:2) and Colombia (0:3) Poland was already out.
So Szczesny had to be 32 years old before he could experience a good tournament. “Good” is almost an understatement: the goalkeeper is the main reason why Poland can call itself a World Cup knockout round again in 2022 after 36 years.
After four saved shots on goal against Mexico (0-0) and five and saved penalties against Saudi Arabia (2-0), there were nine against Argentina – including a penalty from Lionel Messi (39th). Szczesny is the first goalkeeper to save two penalties in normal playing time at a World Cup – and then expressed himself very modestly.
“I’m actually not a penalty killer,” he said in an interview with “MagentaTV”: “There was a bit of luck involved. I picked the right corner and helped the team, I’m happy about that.”
Messi (7) and Julián Álvarez (6) together fired 13 shots at the Polish goal, but mostly found their master in the Juventus keeper. The fact that he himself caused the penalty against Messi was only a minor blemish – the decision of referee Danny Makkelie (Netherlands) was rather questionable.
So there was no mistake in the end: it was Szczesny’s credit that the score was “only” 2-0 at the final whistle and that Poland made it through to the round of 16 thanks to a goal difference over Mexico. “We’re flying to Warsaw today without him,” said Bundesliga goalkeeper Rafal Giekiewicz (FC Augsburg) on ”ZDF”.
He doesn’t necessarily want to have to parry a penalty again. “I saved two, that has to be enough. We shouldn’t count on that,” he said. However, if he continues to do so well, he is a candidate for the eleven of the tournament.
2.) Argentina’s youngsters steal the show from Messi
In the summer, two boys from Club Atlético River Plate, Enzo Fernández (21) and Julián Álvarez (22), set out to conquer Europe; Midfielder Fernández joined Benfica in Lisbon, while attacker Álvarez joined Manchester City – with considerable success already.
The two made it 2-0 against Poland with a dream combination: Fernández refined his dynamic attack with a precisely timed pass between two Poles through to his teammate, Álvarez processed the ball well and threw it humorlessly into the top right corner (67th). – this secured the group victory for Argentina.
If you add the 1-0 (46th) game, in which the three 24-year-olds Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina and Alexis Mac Allister had their feet in the game, five of the six youngest players in Argentina’s squad gave their scent mark against Poland away.
“We just stuck with it,” said Brighton pro Mac Allister about the Argentinians’ mature style of play. “We let the ball run well, we were calm when passing. We played a great game.”
“The fans give us all their love here,” said Álvarez: “It’s a great moment for me, for the whole country. Of course I’m very happy about that.”
In a way, Argentina’s young guard stole the show from the old master Lionel Messi, who had failed with his penalty against Szczesny (39th). It would be completely wrong to assume that the PSG star was performing poorly.
Messi played very well for the team, fired the most shots (7), set up the most shots on goal (5), had the most ball actions in the opponent’s penalty area (13), played the second most balls after Rodrigo De Paul (52). into the attacking third (48), showed the most successful dribbles (4) and led the most tackles on the field (14). “He was great today,” said 2014 world champion Per Mertesacker on “ZDF”.
“I’m angry because I missed the penalty but the team was even stronger after my mistake,” said the 35-year-old, who missed a penalty against Iceland in 2018.
3.) Lewandowski alone on the floor
You could feel a little sorry for Robert Lewandowski at times. The former FC Bayern Munich striker was cut off from supplies in Poland’s attack for almost the entire season. The 34-year-old could completely forget about being played near the penalty area; the center forward of FC Barcelona therefore kept moving into midfield and onto the wings in order to collect at least a few ball actions (in the end at least 36) – his heat map was more like a horseshoe.
“If Lewandowski were playing for Argentina he would have scored five goals today,” said Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz of the lack of support for his goalscorer. Lewandowski only got the ball once in the Argentine penalty area. He failed to get a shot on target; no Pole at all Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez fired something at the gloves – the Aston Villa keeper remained completely unemployed.
However, it was also noticeable that Lewandowski played little or not at all in the defensive game. What is often interpreted as a penalty for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi was apparently part of the plan for the Poles. Lewandowski should simply not run into the pass paths and put Argentines in the shadow of cover. Maybe a ball would have fallen in front of his feet (but he didn’t).
It was unfortunate in some situations, however, in which Romero in particular, who was already making life difficult for Lewandowski with his rock-hard defensive actions, was able to march into Poland’s half with the ball at his feet because he simply wasn’t approached – like before 1 :0.
World Cup 2022: Robert Lewandowski (middle) in a duel with Lionel Messi – Argentina vs. Poland
Fotocredit: Getty Images
After the well-deserved bankruptcy, Lewandowski did not look unhappy. “For the first time in my life I’m satisfied after a defeat,” he said and was pleased: “For us, this is a great success after so many years.” The fact that another tournament favorite was waiting with France was not really avoidable.
Lewandowski took it sporty: “It will be a big challenge for us. We didn’t play a perfect game, but if we analyze it well and prepare well, we can improve and also have fun against France. We just try to step on the gas. And then we’ll see what happens.”
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