Argentina and Poland faced each other in their final group-stage game of the FIFA World Cup. Argentina beat Poland 2-0, thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez. The Albiceletes qualified for the next stages of the competition after the win as they topped the group. However, Poland reached the Round of 16 as well despite losing. One of the biggest talking points from the game was Lionel Messi missing his penalty kick. After the game, Polish GK Wojciech Szczesny revealed that despite saving the spot-kick, he lost a bet to Messi.
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Argentina and Poland went scoreless into their locker room at halftime. Lionel Messi had the opportunity to give Argentina the lead, but Szczesny saved it. Messi became the first player in World Cup history to have his penalty saved in the competition, having missed in 2018 as well.
Wojciech Szczesny has been in an insane form in the World Cup and has already saved two penalties from three games. That itself is one for the record books. However, despite the save, Szczesny lost a €100 bet against Messi.
Wojciech Szczesny bet with Lionel Messi on the penalty decision and lost
Lionel Messi and Szczesny accidentally clashed with each other in the first half of Argentina vs Poland. Szczesny’s hand hit Messi in the face and the decision for a penalty went to the VAR. During the VAR review, Szczesny bet Messi if it would be a penalty or not. Messi won the penalty and the €100 bet after the VAR review.
“We spoke before the penalty and I told would bet him €100 that he [referee] wasn’t going to give it,” Szczesny told TV2. “So I’ve lost a bet against Messi. I don’t know if that’s allowed at the World Cup. I’m probably going to get banned for it! But I don’t care right now. I’m not going to pay him either. He doesn’t care about €100. I think he has enough.”
Når du taper veddemål mot Messi, men nekter å betale😅
🎤@arilasos pic.twitter.com/fe6Bc6iH2q— TV 2 Sport (@tv2sport) November 30, 2022
However, Szczesny saved Lionel Messi’s penalty, keeping Poland in the game. But after the half-time break, Argentina took the lead through Alexis Mac Allister’s goal from inside the box. They doubled their lead with an insane goal from Manchester City star Julian Alvarez. The game ended 2-0 in Argentina’s favor.
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POLAND vs. FRANCE and AUSTRALIA vs. ARGENTINA in the Round of 16 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/0CwblZe8YD
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 30, 2022
However, Poland was still in contention to make it to the knockout stages, as they had a better goal difference than Mexico, who were 2-0 up against Saudi Arabia. But Saudi scored a goal in the final minutes to end Mexico’s World Cup campaign. Poland went don’t o qualify for the Round of 16 and will face defending champions France. Argentina, on the other hand, will face Australia.
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