Mexico v Poland: Knockout decider in opening game
In an ideal world, you’d want the first game of your World Cup campaign to ease you into the tournament. Mexico and Poland, however, have no such luxury. Their first-round meeting is almost certain to be decisive.
In the first match of the Qatar World Cup played at the unique Stadium 974, Mexico face Poland in a game that’ll decide who joins Argentina in the knockout stages from Group C.
The fourth side in this pool, Saudi Arabia, are a cut below the other three, and are set to finish last.
With plenty on the line, it’s fair to say this game is the most intriguing of the pool.
Mexico come into the 2022 tournament with group stage pedigree having advanced to the knockout stages at every World Cup since 1994. And yet this seems to be their limit; they haven’t reached a quarter-final since 1986 and in the history of the tournament Mexico have have never made it to ‘el quinto partido’, or ‘the fifth game’, something that is spoken of as a curse back home.
So while they’ve fallen short at the round of 16 in the last seven consecutive World Cup’s, history would suggest Mexico are almost certain to advance from the group, some even sure this will be the year long-standing curse is lifted.
However, recent performances under coach Gerado ‘Tata’ Martino have left others fearing it is their impeccable group stage form that will be broken.
Losses to Colombia and Sweden in pre-World Cup friendlies leaves Mexico with just two wins from their last seven games, victories over Peru and Iraq hardly a gauge of success.
Poland, meanwhile, arrive in Qatar off the back of impressive wins against Chile and Wales. Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz, appointed earlier this year, has been an instant triumph, securing a 2-0 victory against Sweden to qualify.
Success for Poland would be advancement from the group stage. It’s an achievement that’s evaded them since 1986; if they want that to change, victory on Tuesday will be essential.
And whether Poland will be able to achieve this rests on the shoulder of star man Robert Lewandowski. The Barcelona striker, who has 18 goals to this name for club this season, was mammoth in his county’s qualifying efforts, contributing nine goals and four assists.
But Lewandowski has still yet to score at a World Cup; in what will be his last dance on the biggest international stage, there’s no doubt he’ll be absolutely determined to change that. Supported by Napoli’s Piotr Zieliński, Lewandowski is all set to tear up.
But Mexico might just have the man to stop him. In the sticks will once again be the mythical Guillermo Ochoa in his fifth World Cup.
Famed for his ability to emulate prime Buffon every four years, his performance in Mexico’s 0-0 draw v Brazil in 2014 is etched into World Cup folklore. In 2018 he made no less than 25 saves in just four games.
6ft 5in centre-back César Montes will provide further defensive strength for Mexico. A duel with Lewandowski looms for Montes; how he handles the legendary Pole will be pivotal to the outcome of this game.
Up top, Hirving Lozano is the key man for Mexico. Raul Jiminéz is returning from a groin injury short of game time and goals, so Lozano will lead a Mexico front line that looks to press hard with their front three and win the ball high up the pitch.
The meeting is very evenly balanced, but with Mexico’s history in important group games (1-0 v Germany in 2018 springs to mind), the central Americans look set to edge it.
