Argentina were the top seed in Group C (ranked third) but this did not prevent them coming a cropper against Saudi Arabia in the first shock result of the competition. Mexico were ranked 13th and Poland were 26th but they had Robert Lewandowski in their side, a player capable of winning matches on his own.
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Argentina
Saudi Arabia
Argentina started strongly and went ahead in the tenth minute with a VAR guided penalty. Facing a very high defensive line, Argentina had the ball in the net three times more but each attempt was ruled offside. Saudi Arabia were still in the game as half-time approached and while Argentina had most of the possession they didn't seem sure what to do with it. Three minutes after half-time Saleh al-Shehri surged past a defender before slotting home the equaliser. Five minutes later, with Argentina still reeling, Dawsari retrieved a clearance, evaded three tackles before firing into the top corner.
Mexico
Poland
Poland sat deep in a narow formation and were content to allow Mexico the bulk of possession, especially down the flanks. While Mexico looked more lively they struggled to create chances. Early in the second half it looked like the deadlock would be broken when the referee, with VAR assistance, awarded Poland a penalty after Lewandowski was brought down. However, Guillermo Ochoa, the Mexican goalkeeper, flung himself to the left to save Lewandowski's spot kick at full stretch.
Poland
Saudi Arabia
Cheered on by a capacity crowd almost all of whom were supporting Saudi Arabia, the Green Falcons dominated the first half until the 39th minute when Zielinski crashed the ball home from close range. Five minutes later Bielik fouled Al-Shehri in the box. Szczesny dived to his right to parry the penalty and then brilliantly pushed the follow up over the bar. Eight minutes from time Al Malki received an innocuous square pass on the edge of his penalty area but failed to control the ball, allowing it to run through to where Lewandowski was lurking. The Polish captain nicked the ball and rolled it under the diving Saudi goalkeeper to score his first ever goal in the World Cup finals.
Argentina
Mexico
Argentina dominated possession but the game was desperately short of chances. The difference between the sides was that Argentina took the few chances they had, Messi striking the first blow (64') and Fernandez finished things off (87').
Poland
Argentina
Poland needed a draw to be sure of progressing while for Argentina nothing less than a win would do. Poland's strategy consisted of sitting back and repelling Argentina's attacks but with Lewandowski isolated well up the field they were unable to counter attack effectively. MacAllister (46') and Alvarez (67') put Argentina into the lead but still Poland could not get the ball to counter. When Mexico went 2-0 up in Lusail Poland's goal difference advantage was gone and they now relied on their better disciplinary record. At the end Argentina played with their opponents like a cat with a mouse but after the final whistle went in Doha, Saudi Arabia scored a late goal and Poland were through although they barely desrved it.
Saudi Arabia
Mexico
Having failed to score in their previous group matches, Mexico were 2-0 up 12 minutes into the second half and when Argentina scored their second, Mexico and Poland had identical records with only disciplinary points (which favoured the European side) separating the two. Mexico pressed for a third goal that would put them through but they were thwarted every time. In the fifth minute of added time Al Dawshari ended a rare Saudi counter-attack by slotting the ball home to end Mexico's Houdini act.