Group C: Can Messi inspire Argentina to third title?
Even before the Group matches get underway to determine the strength and weaknesses of each of the groups, football connoisseurs have already tipped Argentina and Mexico to qualify from Group C which has been described as the trickiest group in the tournament. It has two South American countries, as well as Poland from Europe and Saudi Arabia from the Middle East.
All eyes will be on the world’s premier footballer of this era, Lionel Messi, as he leads Argentina in what is expected to be his World Cup swansong. Qatar will be a very good place to inspire ‘La Albiceleste’ to win a third World Cup trophy, especially after coming short as runners-up at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. If he is able to achieve just that, it will cement his legacy as one of the sport’s most distinguished players of all-time.
ARGENTINA
The South American giants are one of the most successful national teams, having won two World Cup trophies in 1978 and 1986, they also finished as runners-up three thrice in 1930, 1990 and 2014.
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Also, Argentina have also been present in all but four of the World Cup tournament, being behind only Brazil and Germany in the number of appearances.
At the continental level, they have won the Copa America 15 times and added the Confederations Cup and the gold medal at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic football tournaments.
Key players.
Messi, who won his first international trophy (Copa America) last year, is desperate to add a World Cup winner's medal to his collection and will be under pressure to produce an inspiring performance similar to what his iconic predecessor, Diego Maradona, did at the 1986 tournament to lead Argentina to a second World Cup title.
Argentina boast some of the world’s leading talents including Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Giovanni Simeone (Napoli) and Manchester United’s teenage sensation Alejandro Garnacho.
Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
MEXICO
Apart from Argentina, Mexico is the most experienced member in Group C having competed in the inaugural tournament in 1930 and as hosts in 1986. In total ‘El Tri’ have fully participated in the elite tournament 16 times and failed to qualify on three occasions: 1934 (Italy), 1974 (West Germany), and 1982 (Spain) -- only Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina have made more World Cup appearances than Mexico.
The South Americans booked their spot in Qatar by finishing second in the CONCACAF qualifying competition behind Canada and are tipped to progress beyond the group stage alongside Argentina in Group C.
However, the South Americans must not underrate group rivals Poland and Saudi Arabia who could derail the ambitions of the favourites if they drop their guard.
Key players:
Mexico will look up to players such as Jesus Corona (Sevilla), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Raul Jimenez of Wolves and Napoli forward Hirving Lozano.
Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentina)
POLAND
Unlike Argentina and Mexico, Poland have no pedigree in the World Cup and, therefore, have little to prove in Qatar.
The Eagles made their debut appearance in 1938 but did not make any impact. However, their best performances were two third-place finish in 1974 and 1982, but thereafter made it past the group stage just once.
After missing the 2010 and 2014 tournaments, they returned to the world stage four years later in Russia but made an early exit at the group stage.
In Qatar, Poland will be led by Barcelona forward, Robert Lewandowski, considered as one of the deadliest strikers in the world, who will be expected to provide the inspiration to attempt to make it into the knockout stage of the competition.
Key players:
Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz has built a strong team of seasoned stars such as Lewandowski and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with some young talents.
The Eagles gaffer will not be short on talents with Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa, Piotr Zielinski (Napoli) Nicola Zalewski (Roma) and Karol Linetty (Torino) all available for selection.
Coach: Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz (Belarus)
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia are outsiders in the group and their geographic closeness to Qatar may not offer them any advantage on the field.
Nicknamed The Green Arabian, the Saudis made their World Cup debut in 1994 in USA where they finished at the Round of 16 stage, with their star player Saeed Al-Owairan scoring the tournament’s most outstanding goal against Belgium -- a display of individual brilliance which is regarded also as one of the best goals in World Cup history.
Since that performance, the Saudis have appeared at the 1998, 2002 and 2018 World Cups but failed to make any meaningful impact.
Key players
Coach Herve Renard will look up to players such as Skipper Salman Al-Faraj and home-based stars Abdulrahman Ghareeb (Al-Ahli) Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Al-Ittihad) and Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Hilal).
Coach: Herve Renard (France)