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Argentina moves on in the World Cup despite Messi’s missed penalty.

As a result of their victory, Argentina will play in the round of 16 for the World Cup.
Argentina won by a score of 2-0 over Pland.
Poland is also in the round of 16.
Despite Lionel Messi’s penalty being saved in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Poland, Argentina has qualified for the round of 16 after winning Group C. The match took place in DOHA.

Czeslaw Michniewicz’s Poland advanced as the group’s runner-up despite Mexico’s 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in the other game.

After a tense first half, Argentina’s nerves were calmed by Alexis Mac Allister’s goal in the 46th minute, and they extended their lead just over 20 minutes later thanks to a goal from Julian Alvarez.

Messi claimed the team’s “serenity” after their 2-0 victory over Mexico and expressed excitement over facing Australia in the round of 16.

It was imperative that we win,” Messi said.

Every team has a fighting chance against Australia. It’s going to be a close game, so we need to do our best to get ready for it.

In the first half, Poland’s Wojciech Szczesny had prevented Argentina from scoring twice by saving penalties.

Szczesny was called for a penalty after he was ruled to have fouled Messi while trying to get to a cross, but he made a spectacular save by diving to his left.

Messi missed his 31st penalty kick of his career.

I’m mad that I missed the penalty, but we ended up stronger because of it.

We all knew the game would be different after the first goal was scored.

Poland — who now face France in the last 16 — 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.

Penalty save
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.

“We were trying to score the whole time and I think we’re back to being the team we used to be,” said Mac Allister.

“We controlled the ball more, we were calm and we didn’t get desperate. We played a great match.”

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.

“It was not a match for a striker but I knew it would be like this,” Lewandowski said.

“For me, for the Poland team, given the possibilities we have, it was a success.

“No-one will remember what this match was like — we will just be getting ready for France.”