adminDOHA. – The final games in Group C will go down as one of the most dramatic evenings at any World Cup.
Poland lost 0-2 against Argentina, which guaranteed the South American side top spot in Group C and led to a myriad of permutations.
With Mexico winning by the same scoreline against Saudi Arabia, that meant Gerardo Martino’s side and Poland were level not only on points and goal difference but also goals scored and goals conceded.
Martino’s Mexico were therefore staring at the prospect of going out on FIFA’s Fair Play rule having collected seven yellow cards to Poland’s five, and becoming the second side – after Senegal four years ago – to exit by that metric.
With seven minutes of time added on, a goal for Mexico would have completed the swing required for an unlikely progression into the round of 16.
Even after Salem Al Dawsari’s stoppage-time consolation strike, a third goal for Mexico would have sent them through on goals scored.
“I am the man responsible for this frustration and disappointment. It is real sadness and I assume all the responsibility for this huge failure,” said Argentine Martino, who will leave his role after the tournament.
“We outplayed the opponent, created more chances and we could have scored as many goals as needed. “But we failed and I don’t think we were knocked out in the previous matches, rather today.”
Mexico exit at the group stage for the first time since 1978, ending a run of eight straight occasions of advancing to the knockout stage, while Poland’s reward is a meeting with defending champions France on Sunday.
When the game at Stadium 974 finished 2-0, the one at Lusail Stadium – 18 miles away – still had more than two minutes to play. One more goal for Mexico and they were through.
Asked if he knew the result of the other game, Martino said: “Yes. That is why we went for the third goal and we added two centre-forwards together.
“The moment we knew that Poland had fewer yellows, we were going out and it was necessary in that moment.
“We knew the result of Argentina and we assessed that unless many players were booked in the Poland game, the results meant we were still out.”
Poland manager Czeslaw Michniewicz said: “We had an agreement that only me and the technical staff would be across what was happening in the Mexico match.
“My heart stopped a bit when Grzegorz Krychowiak was booked, we knew it was minus three points and fair play was already taken into consideration.” – BBC Sport.
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