World Cup 2022: 'This was the night the real Argentina stood up'

Argentina's World Cup graph continues on an upward curve as Lionel Messi's involvement inQatar continues into the last 16 - but the story of a routine win barely touches the sides of the drama that unfolded at Stadium 971.

The Poles and Australia will join them in the knockout stage.

The real Argentina stood up, the fluid and competitive force that went 36 games without a loss before the rug was pulled out from under them by Saudi Arabia, playing their best game of the tournament.

There was tension and drama in the closing stages because Argentina were so superior.

Poland were through on the basis that they had fewer yellow cards than Mexico, but knowing that the Mexicans would concede at least one goal at Lusail Stadium, they would be sent out.

In the end, Saudi Arabia put Poland's qualification beyond doubt with a goal of their own, the catalyst for wild Polish celebrations.

In the background, Argentina was praised by their fans, who flooded Stadium , making it look and sound like River Plate Stadium.

After Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia, they needed a moment of Messi magic to get back on track, and they did just that with a 2-0 victory against Mexico.

Messi had a first-half penalty brilliantly saved by Szczesny and they played at a higher pace and intensity.

It was an awful award after VAR, the result of a routine aerial challenge between Messi and Szczesny.

Diego Maradona had the most appearances for Argentina in the World Cup, but it was Lionel Messi who had the most appearances.

Messi could not celebrate the landmark with a goal but it would have left a sour taste had he done so with the penalty, which the VAR should have pointed to the spot.

The only surprise was that it took 46 minutes for the breakthrough, and that the second goal was a fine one.

The completion rate for Argentina's passing game was the highest on record in a World Cup game since 1966 and they completed 800 in the game.

They combined the more subtle aspects of the game with a fierce trademark competitive edge, tearing into block busting tackles, harassing Poland until they coughed up possession, every player willing to do the defensive dirty work to regain possession.

This was the night that the real Argentina stood up.

Argentina joined Brazil, England, France and Spain in showing what they can do, and the determination to secure it from the first whistle will have delighted coach Lionel Scaloni.

This looked like the team they were talking about before the showpiece began, with the younger generation led by Messi.

It was exemplified by the clever piece of skill produced by 21-year-old Enzo Fernadez of Benfica to set up Alvarez, only 22, to fire a finish high past Szczesny into the top corner to show why he is so highly regarded.

After the final whistle, thousands of Argentina fans went through their full songbook in a celebration of what they had just seen and what they might see from their team in the future.

They wore shirts and scarves in celebration of their country's colors.

The belief is growing among Argentina's players and supporters that they might yet fulfill all those optimistic pre-World Cup predictions, and that Messi may yet get his hands on the crown.

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