Argentina’s stars salute their fans after an impressive win over Poland in Group C
(Picture: REUTERS)Easily the most one-sided match of the World Cup in the stands also proved to be one of the most one-sided on the pitch.
Argentina clicked into gear to set up a last-16 tie against Australia as Group C winners after a 2-0 victory over Poland, sealed by goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez, and notable for Lionel Messi's first-half penalty miss.
If their defeat by Saudi Arabia was wretched, and the jittery win over Mexico down to a Messi rescue mission, then this was a much more accomplished display, albeit in strange circumstances, which suggests Lionel Scaloni's side can live up to pre-tournament expectations in the knockouts.
The occasion was made particularly memorable by Argentina's support from the terraces, which could genuinely be a telling factor in their fortunes for the rest of the tournament. Fans in blue and white striped shirts filled almost every seat in the 44,089-capacity Stadium 974, with only a few tiny pockets of Poland supporters visible.
The noise was deafening at times and the atmosphere turned into a party after Manchester City's Alvarez fired into the top corner in the 67th minute.
Poland - who also crept through as runners-up courtesy of their superior goal difference over Mexico, who conceded late in their win over Saudi Arabia - were loudly whistled on the rare occasions they strung a few passes together and, on another balmy evening in the desert, you might have been at Monumental or La Bombonera for an Argentina home game.
There are tens of thousands of Argentina fans in Qatar and none will be eager to return home after a result which makes for a favourable-looking tie against the Socceroos. No other nation can match that level of support, particularly with the Saudis and Mexicans both heading home and because many locals have also adopted Messi's team.
The level of expectation can weigh heavily on Scaloni's players, illustrated by the way they crumbled in the second half against Saudi Arabia and were so scatty before Messi's cool finish in the 2-0 win over Mexico.
But now they have found their groove, the fans could be an X-factor at a tournament where few other nations have mustered their usual levels of support, for well-documented reasons.
Argentina will have a 12th man against the Aussies and potentially going forward, and if they continue to grow in swagger, they will win over more locals in Qatar, who appear to be evenly split between La Albiceleste and their rivals Brazil.
Poland, by contrast, will not win any supporters after an uninspiring and high-risk display which suggests France will make light work of them in the last-16.
The Poles owe their progress to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made a string of fine saves to ensure they remained ahead of Mexico, as well as wasteful Argentine finishing.
Until Saudi's late goal they were only progressing thanks to their superior disciplinary record: five yellow cards to the Mexicans' seven. Despite boasting Robert Lewandowski up front, Poland did not manage a single effort on target, but Szczesny saved at least eight at the other end.
The pick of the bunch was Messi's penalty, denying the little magician the chance to go level as the top scorer in the tournament with a ninth World Cup goal in total. The stadium sagged in a brief moment of disappointment when Szczesny dived smartly to his left, but the general feeling among neutrals was surely one of justice done.
The goalkeeper caught Messi in the face with a glove as he reached for a cross but the ball was never in the forward's control as he stretched to create an improbable headed chance at the back post. Referee Danny Makkelie awarded the spot-kick after reviewing the pitch-side monitor but Szczesny saved with a big right hand. It was a nice height for the Juventus goalkeeper, who also saved one against the Saudis and is developing a formidable reputation as a specialist.
Szczesny's excellence was the only thing keeping an abject Poland in the game, and he also made a string of lively stops in the second half. When he was beaten late on, a defender got back to clear off the line, saving Poland.
The former Arsenal no1 was powerless to prevent the breakthrough goal, Mac Allister scuffing a finish into the far corner from Nahuel Molina's cross. Alvarez, who missed a one-on-one with Szczesny in the first half, made the game safe with a magnificent hit into the top corner, as Messi came alive in a more open period after half-time.
The final minutes were played out in the strangest of fashion, with Poland presumably aware they were going through and essentially attempting both not to concede or give the referee any chance to brandish a yellow card. It was risky but ultimately effective.
With the two sides through, the loudest fans at either end could celebrate raucously at the final whistle, although they were both supporting the same team.
