Tuesday 22nd November:

Argentina v Saudi Arabia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)- 10am- ITV
Mexico v Poland (Stadium 974, Doha- 4pm- BBC

Saturday 26th November:


Poland vs Saudi Arabia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)- 1pm- ITV
Argentina vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)- 7pm- ITV

Wednesday 30th November:

Poland vs Argentina (Stadium 974, Doha)- 7pm- BBC
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)- 7pm- BBC

Odds to win Group C: (Coral):

Argentina 2-5f
Mexico 5-1
Poland 5-1
Saudi Arabia 25-1

Who do you think will go through in Group C?

On paper, one of the most obvious to call a group winner and loser from but again, the conditions will hugely favour Saudi Arabia so I could see them pulling off a shock win if not progressing.

 

In all likeliness it's a toss up between Mexico and Poland for runners up but I'm backing Mexico - just came back from my hols there so I've still got the Mexican vibes in my system!

Argen-TINA

Mexico

Saudi Arabia

Poland

Argentina

Poland

Mexico

Saudi Arabia

A tale of opposite ends of the spectrum here I think. Argentina will get maximum points and their first match against Saudi Arabia could be an absolute battering. I remember Saudi Arabia losing 8-0 to Germany in the 2002 World Cup, could be a similar score if Argentina are really in the mood. Good chance that Saudi Arabia wont even score a goal let alone get a single point.

 

1. Argentina

2. Mexico

3. Poland

4. Saudi Arabia

I reckon Argentina will probably have an easy time in the group. Mexico and Poland both seen a little off where they've been previously so will be close between the two. Mexico always make the last 16 but I think this might be the year that run ends. Saudi Arabia will have a lot of support from the fans but the poor start of Qatar & Iran makes me think they won't be able to cause any surprises.

 

1. Argentina

2. Poland

3. Mexico

4. Saudi Arabia

Argentina (4-3-3): Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Gomez; Messi, Martinez, Di Maria. Subs: Armani, Rulli, Foyth, Montiel, Pezzella, Acuna, Palacios, Rodriguez, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Alvarez, Correa, Almada, Dybala.

 

Saudi Arabia (4-3-3): Alowais; Abdulhamid, Altambakti, Albulaihi, Alshahrani; Kanno, Almalki, Alfaraj, Albrikan, Alshehri, Aldawsari. Subs: Alyami, Alaqidi, Madu, Alamri, Alburayk, Alghannam, Aldawsari, Alnajei, Alhassan, Otayf, Alabed, Alobud Bahbri, Asiri.

Oh dear! A slight technical glitch

It took less than 2 minutes for Lionel Messi to have his first dangerous shot on target in the World Cup.

Here we go... VAR again. And it's a penalty that seemed very similar to Maguire's that wasn't given yesterday.

And Messi scores from the penalty, 1-0.

Lionel Messi has the ball in the back of the net again after latching on to a pass in behind the Saudi Arabia defence, but the Paris Saint-Germain forward had gone marginally too soon. It remains 1-0.

Martinez scores to make it 2-0.

 

Edit: No goal, offside due to VAR.

Saudi Arabia with a great tactic here: Play such a high line that every ball leads to either an offside or a goal.

 

Against Argentina, you probably take those odds.

Yet again another goal offside ruled out for Argentina.

Step 1: high defensive line and setup for offside trap

Step 2: inshallah

 

Certainly puts them a cut above the way Iran and Qatar have been playing

Argentina have been flagged offside (7) more times than they have managed shots (5)

Fair play to this Saudi Arabian side. They way they’re playing has made this such a great watch. The risky high press and high line has meant they’ve won the ball in some dangerous areas. If they had better quality up top they really could have made Argentina nervous.

 

The penalty might have been the best thing that could have happened in this game because I think Saudi Arabia would have just completely sat back of it was still 0-0.

 

3 goals ruled out for offside is great too :lol:

They’ve deserved that equaliser.

Very well deserved equaliser from Saudi Arabia, 1-1. Didn't expect this.