Varsky analyzes how Argentina arrives at the match against Poland 1:41
(Reuters) --
The clash between Poland and Argentina will be a duel between two teams, not between strikers Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi, the European team's coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said on Tuesday ahead of their decisive Group C final match of the World.
Poland leads the standings with four points and will advance to the next round with a win or a draw.
But they would be eliminated with a loss coupled with a victory for Saudi Arabia over Mexico in the other game on Wednesday.
"Since the groups were drawn, the whole world has been waiting to see this match (...) It is a match between Poland and Argentina, not between Lewandowski and Messi," Michniewicz said at a press conference.
Qatar 2022: Argentina prepares to face Poland.
Varsky reviews what he needs to advance to the round of 16
Poland's head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 22, 2022. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)
"It's not a tennis match where they're going to play one-on-one and everyone is going to wait to see who can hit an ace or a nice lob. Robert needs his teammates and Messi does too."
Argentina have won six of their 11 matches against Poland, while the Poles won the last time they met in 2011 in a friendly.
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"This match is not a friendly," Michniewicz said.
"It's going to be a battle between two teams that can still progress."
To achieve this, Poland will have to stop one of the best footballers in history.
"It's a big question, how to stop Lionel Messi," Michniewicz joked.
"I think everybody's been wondering for the last 18 years. And I don't think we're going to find out as long as he's playing."
Lionel Messi Robert Lewandowski