GROUP C

ESHLIN VEDAN

GROUP C

The battle for second place in Group C will be hotly-contested between Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia with Lionel Messi’s Argentina expected to top the group.

ARGENTINA

THIS will be the final chance for a 35-year-old Lionel Messi to win the World Cup with Argentina. The South American giants have arguably their best squad since the turn of the century, and along with Brazil, are one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the event. Also, for the first time since pre-2010, Argentina have a team capable of beating the big guns of world football without the presence of Messi. Messi will receive support in attack from the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala, while veteran Angel di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo de Paul should pull the strings in midfield. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez is likely to start in goal, with his backline comprising of 34-year-old Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuna and Nicolas Tagliafico.

SAUDI ARABIA

ON paper, the Saudis should be the whipping boys of the group. Herve Renard’s men will be making their seventh Cup appearance, but have only advanced from the group stage once, in the US in 1994, before being beaten in the Round of 16 by Sweden. With the Saudis pushing money into football and even businessmen from the oil-rich country now buying elite football clubs such as Newcastle United, a strong showing at the World Cup could see football explode in the Gulf nation. Renard’s squad in Qatar is almost certain to be made up entirely of locally-based players.

MEXICO

IN a way, Mexico are one of the most consistent teams at the World Cup, but not in a way they would like. At every World Cup since 1994, El Tri have advanced beyond the group stage, but been eliminated in the last 16. The aim for Gerardo Martino’s side will be to once again get to the knockout stage, and beating Saudi Arabia and Poland is definitely an achievable target for the North Americans. Three important players for Mexico will be midfielder Edson Alvarez, who is the team’s best player, Napoli attacker Hirving Lozano (middle right) and Guadalajara winger Alexis Vega.

POLAND

POLAND have not gone beyond the group stage since 1986, but this group is navigable for them as they face the Saudis, whom they will be expected to beat easily, and an out of-form Mexico, although beating Argentina will be too tough of a task. Poland have been anything but convincing recently, and it is difficult to see them doing well in Qatar without good performances from key player Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski (bottom right) is one of the best players in the world, but he is required to do a bit more on the international stage, compared to club level with Barcelona. Being required to drop back regularly could potentially limit the amount of goals Lewandowski scores in Qatar, but he should still bag his first World Cup goal.