Twitter erupts as Argentina qualify in top spot despite Lionel Messi penalty miss
Argentina marched into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup as Group C winners with a 2-0 win over Poland despite Lionel Messi missing a first-half penalty.
Lionel Scaloni's men needed a positive result against Poland as it was all to play for heading into the final matchday of Group C.
Argentina were much the better side in the first half against Bialo-Czerwoni and had the golden opportunity to take the lead in the 39th minute.
Lionel Messi went down after colliding with Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 36th minute.
The Juventus shot-stopper knocked the ball away for a corner but caught the Paris Saint-Germain attacker.
Messi held his face as he lay on the floor with Dutch referee Danny Makkelie consulting with VAR.
After looking at the incident on the pitchside monitor, a penalty was awarded to La Albiceleste.
Messi stepped up but saw his spot-kick saved brilliantly by an outstretched Szczesny.
Somehow Argentina went in at halftime, having not scored, but that wasn't for too much longer once the second half kicked off.
Alexis Mac Allister grabbed Scaloni's side the lead in the 46th minute, converting Nahuel Molina's fine cross to give Argentina a deserved opener.
Manchester City youngster Julian Alvarez put La Albiceleste further in front in the 67th minute.
Enzo Fernandez found the 22-year-old, and he took one touch before sending a stunning strike past Szczesny.
Scaloni's men fully deserved their victory, securing their place in the last 16 as Group C winners.
They will now face Australia in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Poland finished second in Group C with a superior goal difference to Mexico.
Here are some reactions from fans on Twitter to a frantic Argentine victory over Poland:
FT: Poland 0-2 Argentina.
ARGENTINA ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE ROUND OF 16 VS AUSTRALIA! https://t.co/tv7WixZ2Hi
There were 27 uninterrupted passes in the buildup to Julián Álvarez's goal for Argentina against Poland - two more than when Esteban Cambiasso scored for them against Serbia in 2006
Messi when Argentina gets another penalty and he has to take it #POLARG #WorldCup #Qatar2022 https://t.co/9oR2WrwNGO
Szczesny telling the Argentina players to calm down before the penalty was even taken🤣
He’s too cold… https://t.co/5x532ubsX5
🤣“Here’s my number, they call me Szczęsny”
Today is a good day to remember this. 😂🤣 https://t.co/60pepqGlRZ
messi who? #POLARG https://t.co/MOHVDzWcul
Messi missed a pen and still dropped a masterclass that’s the difference
Lionel Messi is one of the very few players I know that can have an amazing performance without a direct goal contribution
1978: Mario Kempes missed a penalty in the 3rd game
1986: Diego Maradona missed a penalty in the 3rd game
2022: Lionel Messi missed a penalty in the 3rd game
🤔🇦🇷 https://t.co/mJgvdmsUXJ
Such a treat to watch Messi live. Even though the acceleration is not what it was, he’s just on another level. Joyous footballer.
Messi to Canelo after missing his penalty to send Mexico out. https://t.co/n4x7tCIpi2
Wonderful to see Argentina going through, playing well and the daft penalty not mattering either way. Not his night in front of goal but Messi's passing was sublime.
Argentina seeing that they have Australia to play in the last 16…… https://t.co/qNoqLCpycS
Argentina when they learned that a goal would send Mexico through to the next round https://t.co/PRC1TZjjTD
Argentina top their group and face Australia in the next round https://t.co/lpGuenA412
Thank you Allister, Thank you Alvarez and Thank you team Argentina from bottom of my heart. Can’t even think about the slander if Argentina had got knocked out after that Messi penalty miss
Alexis Mac Allister, take a bow. He has excelled as a controlling 6 in a double pivot for Brighton. He comes to the World Cup tasked with filling the void left by Lo Celso and excelled as a box-to-box 8 & attacking threat in the group decider. Superb adaptability. What a talent.
Netherlands-USA#Qatar2022 🚨📑⤵️
▫️ Netherlands-USA
▫️ Argentina-Australia
▫️ France-Poland
▫️ England-Senegal
Fulltime: Argentina 2-0 Poland. https://t.co/My1b642qQB
Messi’s best game of the three by far yet he has 0 G/A. Weird how this sport works sometimes
Messi drinking Canelo’s tears after his penalty miss means Mexico are put out on booking points. https://t.co/Jm3nAWwLx2
Messi’s playmaking… the best this sport is ever going to see
This Argentina team should be very proud. A loss vs. Saudi Arabia, a turn around against an always difficult Mexico and a 2-0 win vs. Poland after Messi missed the penalty. This is a team. This is not 11 players, this is 26 players. Lionel Scaloni doing great. 🇦🇷
Pablo Zabaleta says that Lionel Messi should retire if he wins the FIFA World Cup with Argentina
Zabaleta has claimed that Lionel Messi should hang his boots up if he is to win the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in Qatar.
The iconic forward has announced that this will be his final appearance at the international tournament.
He has come close to winning the competition in the past, losing 1-0 in an agonizing final against Germany in 2014.
If Lionel Messi wins the World Cup this time around, he should retire with Zabaleta saying:
"Of course, everyone can change off the field. He is now more mature; he has more experience, and he is a family man – but he is still an amazing footballer too. If he does win this World Cup, then he should just retire straight away because he will have achieved everything possible. There will be nothing left for him to win."