2022 FIFA World Cup Group C
Group C of the 2022 FIFA World Cup took place from 22 to 30 November 2022.[1] The group consisted of national association football represeting Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. The top two teams, Argentina and Poland, advanced to the round of 16. This marked the first time that Mexico did not advance past the first round since 1978.[2]
Teams
The teams were decided by the World Cup draw that took place on 1 April 2022.[3] The group was set to receive one team from each pot, which sorted all World Cup teams by position on the FIFA World Rankings.[3]
Draw position | Team | Pot | Confederation | Method of qualification |
Date of qualification |
Finals appearance |
Last appearance |
Previous best performance |
FIFA Rankings[5] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 2022[nb 1] | October 2022 | |||||||||
C1 | Argentina | 1 | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Round Robin runners-up | 16 November 2021 | 18th | 2018 | Winners (1978, 1986) | 4 | 3 |
C2 | Saudi Arabia | 4 | AFC | AFC Third Round Group B winners | 24 March 2022 | 6th | 2018 | Round of 16 (1994) | 49 | 51 |
C3 | Mexico | 2 | CONCACAF | CONCACAF Third Round runners-up | 30 March 2022 | 17th | 2018 | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) | 9 | 13 |
C4 | Poland | 3 | UEFA | UEFA Second Round Path B winners | 29 March 2022 | 9th | 2018 | Third place (1974, 1982) | 26 | 26 |
Notes
- ^ The rankings of March 2022 were used for seeding for the final draw.
Summary
The first match of the group was between Argentina and Saudi Arabia. The two teams had faced each other four times prior to the tournament, most recently in 2012, a 0–0 draw in a friendly game, though Argentina beat Saudi Arabia 3–1 back in the 1992 King Fahd Cup.[6] Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina and ended their 36-match unbeaten streak.[7] According to Gracenote, the win was the "most surprising" in World Cup history, with many calling it one of the biggest World Cup upsets in history.[8] This was also the second consecutive time that Argentina did not win their opening match at a World Cup, after drawing 1–1 with Iceland in 2018; and the first time since 1990 that Argentina lost their opening match. Argentina had taken the lead in the 10th minute with a penalty from Lionel Messi, awarded for a foul on Leandro Paredes, which he rolled into the left corner. They also had three goals ruled out for offside. Saudi Arabia equalized in the 48th minute with a low shot to the right corner from Saleh Al-Shehri.[9] They took the lead five minutes later when Salem Al-Dawsari curled the ball into the right corner of the net from just inside the penalty area.[10]
The second match was held between Mexico and Poland. They had met eight times previously including once in the World Cup, in Poland's 3–1 first group stage victory in 1978, and most recently in 2017 in a 1–0 win for Mexico in a friendly.[11] The only shot on target of the first half was from Jorge Sánchez, which was punched away by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny.[12] In the 54th minute, Poland captain Robert Lewandowski was awarded a penalty after the Video Assistant Referee judged that Héctor Moreno had fouled the Poland captain inside the penalty area.[13] Guillermo Ochoa saved the penalty taken by Lewandowski, diving to his left, and the game stayed goalless.[14][15] At the other end of the field, Mexico had a chance to win the game as a ball into the penalty area from Edson Álvarez went towards Henry Martín who attempted to head the ball beyond Szczęsny; however, the Poland goalkeeper managed to beat the ball away. Poland failed to win their opening game in a World Cup for the eighth time, having won just one of their nine opening World Cup games, though for the first time since 1986, they did not lose the opening game of a World Cup.[16]
Poland and Saudi Arabia had faced each other four times prior to the tournament most recently in 2006, a 2–1 win for Poland in a friendly game.[17] Piotr Zieliński scored the opening goal for Poland in the 39th minute. At the end of the first half, Saleh Al-Shehri was fouled in the box and was alwarded a penalty kick. However, Salem Al-Dawsari attempt was saved by Wojciech Szczęsny in the first minute of stoppage time. In the second half, an error by Abdulellah Al-Malki led to Robert Lewandowski scoring his first World Cup goal in the 82nd minute as Saudi Arabia were defeated by Poland 2–0.[18] The result meant that Poland did not lose their two opening World Cup games for the first time since 1986.[19]
Argentina and Mexico had played at FIFA World Cups three times. Argentina had won all three: 6–3 group stage victory in 1930, 2–1 round of 16 win in 2006 and another round of 16 victory by 3–1 in 2010.[citation needed] After a goalless first half,[20] Messi put Argentina into the lead in the 64th minute.[21] Enzo Fernández made it 2–0 and secured the win in the 87th minute with a curled finish to the right corner of the net.[22]
The third matchday encounter between Poland and Argentina was the third time the two nations met in a FIFA World Cup. Wojciech Szczęsny made a penalty save in the first half to deny Lionel Messi, only to concede twice for the first time in this FIFA World Cup, when Argentina scored two goals in the second half, the first by Alexis Mac Allister with a low shot to the left corner and the second from Julián Álvarez with a shot to the top right corner as the Argentines won 2–0, topping the group with two wins.[23] Despite this, Poland would eventually join Argentina in the last sixteen thanks to a superior goal difference than Mexico.[24]
Saudi Arabia and Mexico had met five previous times, most recently in 1999, a 5–1 win for Mexico at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.[citation needed] After a goalless first half, Mexico struck twice in the second half, first with a volley from a corner kick by Henry Martín in the 47th minute and then with a thunderous free kick by Luis Chávezin the 52th minute. However, Mexico failed to find a third goal, which they needed to overtake Poland on goal difference – Mexico had received more yellow cards than Poland and would have been eliminated on this basis if the teams finished level on points, goal difference, and goals scored. Salem Al-Dawsari, however, scored in the 5th minute of added time with a goal after a one-two, which confirmed both teams' elimination from the tournament as Mexico claimed the 2–1 win.[25]
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | Advanced to knockout stage |
2 | Poland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
3 | Mexico | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 | |
4 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 |
In the round of 16:
- The winners of Group C, Argentina, advanced to play the runners-up of Group D, Australia.
- The runners-up of Group C, Poland, advanced to play the winners of Group D, France.
Matches
All times listed are local, AST (UTC+3).[1]
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Argentina | 1–2 | Saudi Arabia |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Argentina
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Mexico vs Poland
Mexico
|
Poland
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Poland vs Saudi Arabia
The two teams had faced each other four times, most recently in 2006, a 2–1 win for Poland in a friendly game.
The win against Saudi Arabia marked the first time that Poland avoided defeat in their opening two World Cup matches since 1986, having previously failed to do so in 2002, 2006 and 2018.
Poland | 2–0 | Saudi Arabia |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Poland
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Argentina vs Mexico
Argentina
|
Mexico
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Poland vs Argentina
Poland | 0–2 | Argentina |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Poland
|
Argentina
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Saudi Arabia | 1–2 | Mexico |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Saudi Arabia
|
Mexico
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:[2]
- first yellow card: −1 point;
- indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
- direct red card: −4 points;
- yellow card and direct red card: −5 points;
Team | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Points | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 1 | 1 | −2 | ||||||||||
Poland | 1 | 3 | 1 | −5 | |||||||||
Mexico | 2 | 4 | 1 | −7 | |||||||||
Saudi Arabia | 6 | 2 | 6 | −14 |
Notes
- ^ Mexico assistant manager Jorge Theiler was shown a yellow card (61').
- ^ Saudi Arabia assistant manager Laurent Bonadéi was shown a yellow card (27').
References
- ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Match Schedule" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Regulations – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Qatar 2022 all qualified teams, groups and match schedule". FIFA.
- ^ "World Cup 2022 Group B: Match schedule, fixtures, times and dates for England, USA, Iran, Wales in Qatar". www.sportingnews.com.
- ^ "Men's Ranking". FIFA. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ "Argentina national football team: record v Saudi Arabia". 11v11. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ Smith, Rory (22 November 2022). "How Saudi Arabia Pulled Off a Huge Upset, Humbling Argentina, 2-1". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's victory over Argentina is the greatest upset in World Cup history, says data company". CNN.com. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2". BBC Sport. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia stun Argentina as Salem al-Dawsari winner crowns comeback". Guardian. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Poland national football team: Record v Mexico".
- ^ "Lewandowski misses penalty as Mexico hold Poland". BBC Sport. 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Mexico 0-0 Poland: World Cup 2022 – as it happened". the Guardian. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ Child, Elizabeth Melimopoulos,Rohan Sharma,David. "Mexico vs Poland 0-0: World Cup 2022 – as it happened". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Lewandowski, duas vezes ganhador do prêmio The Best, busca 1º gol em Copas". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Mexico vs. Poland - Football Match Summary - November 22, 2022 - ESPN".
- ^ "Poland national football team: Record v Saudi%20Arabia".
- ^ "Poland 2 Saudi Arabia 0". BBC Sport. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "World Cup result: How Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 to move to the top of Group C". The Athletic. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Argentina 2 Mexico 0: As it happened". Aljazeera.com. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Argentina 2 Mexico 0: As it happened". Guardian. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Argentina 2 Mexico 0". BBC Sport. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Poland 0 Argentina 2:As it happened". Guardian. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Argentina top group as Poland through on goal difference". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ "World Cup 2022 - Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico: Salem Al-Dawsari ends Mexican hopes with late goal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Saudis stun Argentina in historic upset". FIFA. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Ochoa thwarts Lewandowski in Mexico-Poland stalemate". FIFA. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Lewandowski off the mark in Poland victory". FIFA. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Messi inspires Argentina to crucial Mexico victory". FIFA. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ "Argentina outclass Poland as both advance". FIFA. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Mexico fall just short after dramatic second half". FIFA. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.