World Cup Preview | Group C | Can Lionel Messi finally get his hands on the World Cup this year?

The 2022 World Cup kicks off this Sunday with Qatar and Ecuador getting the tournament underway.

For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup will take place midseason in relation to Europe’s top five Leagues with 32 teams setting their sights on Qatar.

The nature of timing ensures a number of players will miss out while the Republic Of Ireland also failed to qualify.

But with the World Cup approaching, we’ll be taking a deep dive into each group ahead of the tournament’s start this Sunday.

Yesterday we had Group A & Group B.

Today we look ahead to Group C, which contains Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Argentina

Manager – Lionel Scaloni

Best WC Finish – Winners (1978, 1986)

2018 WC Finish – Last 16

FIFA World Ranking – 3rd

Tournament Odds – 11/2

Argentina will certainly be a number of people’s favourites to lift the World Cup trophy on December 17th and it’s evident as to why.

A last-16 exit at the hands of eventual winners France was their fate in 2018, which forced the Argentinian board to sack coach Jorge Sampaoli who was replaced by current coach Lionel Scaloni. The 44-year-old has enjoyed a successful tenure since his appointment and guided Argentina to an unbeaten qualifier campaign, finishing second behind Brazil.

Their squad boasts a mix of experience and youth with veterans such as Angel di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico still providing quality for Scaloni’s side. On the other hand, you have 24-year-old centre-back Lisandro Martinez, 22-year-old forward Julian Alvarez and 24-year-old Cristian Romero embarking on their first World Cup journey despite donning the appearance of seasoned veterans for their clubs.

Of course, on a planet of his own, you have Lionel Messi. The captain of The Albiceleste tops the charts for every stat – most goals, most appearances, most assists and was the leader of the side as they won their first major international tournament in 28 years with their 2021 Copa America triumph. Despite announcing his international retirement in 2016, the PSG talisman returned but this looks almost guaranteed to be his last dance.

A 35-match unbeaten run will need to be extended to 42 if they look to win the World Cup this year, which would be the perfect send-off for possibly the greatest player to take the field.

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Saudi Arabia

Manager – Herve Renard

Best WC Finish – Last 16 (1994)

2018 WC Finish – Group Stages

FIFA World Ranking – 51st

Tournament Odds – 500/1

One of six teams that are priced at 500/1, Saudi Arabia are preparing to compete in their sixth tournament.

A win against Egypt in the group stage was the only result that went in their favour in 2018 as they suffered an opening day thumping to Russia as well as a narrow 1-0 defeat to Uruguay to end their World Cup dreams before the knockout stages began.

But the Herve Renard managed side have impressed in their qualifiers with a record of thirteen wins, four draws and one loss from their eighteen qualification games as they topped both groups they were placed in, ahead of World Cup competitors Australia and Japan.

Every player named in the 26-man squad plays within Saudi Arabia, with a large proportion of the side playing for Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. With the majority of the squad playing with and against each other week in week out, time will tell whether this can benefit them and match their 1994 achievement of reaching the last-16.

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Mexico

Manager – Gerardo Martino

Best WC Finish – Quarter-Finals (1970, 1986)

2018 WC Finish – Last 16

FIFA World Ranking – 13th

Tournament Odds – 90/1

There’s been little talk around Mexico as we approach the start of the World Cup, despite the country possessing a fine crop of players.

Their 2018 World Cup journey was bench-marked by their incredible 1-0 win over then-reigning champions Germany with Hrving Lozano notching Le Tri’s only goal of the game. A win against South Korea had all but guaranteed the side a place in the Last-16 but they were beaten 3-0 in their final group game against Sweden which proved irrelevant as South Korea had beaten Germany.

A last-16 tie against Brazil was set up and it was the Selecao that came out on top, breaking Mexican hearts but the country enjoyed a tournament to be proud of.

They’ll be hoping to match their group stage achievement of 2018 this year and it’s very possible considering the talent found within their squad. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is historically known for his incredible World Cup performances following the 37-year-old’s incredible campaign in 2014. Ironically, the youngest goalkeeper in the squad, Club Leon’s Rodolfo Cota is 35-years-old!

Forwards such as Raul Jimenez and Lozano have been off the boil as of late but are known to be quality players that will need to be firing on all cylinders to give their nation hope in the competition.

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Poland

Manager – Czesław Michniewicz

Best WC Finish – Third Place (1978, 1982)

2018 WC Finish – Group Stage

FIFA World Ranking – 26th

Tournament Odds – 175/1

Poland have endured a treacherous World Cup history in recent years, with the side last progressing from their group stage in 1986.

2018 was a campaign to forget for the nation as they won just one game, a final group stage clash against Japan when their elimination was all but confirmed before kick-off. The same can be said for their Euro 2020 campaign, with a draw and two losses sending them home before the knockout stages began.

Poland will enter the first major tournament under Czesław Michniewicz who was appointed in January of this year. He was at the helm for the majority of their qualification games where they clinched second place behind England and beat Sweden 2-0 in the final of the qualifiers.

And there’s no reason why Poland shouldn’t be able to bring their form into the World Cup with a squad full of European talent. Robert Lewandowski is the main man with the striker captaining the side for another tournament. The 34-year-old has continued to bang in the goals for Barcelona since his summer transfer from Bayern Munich and will look to replicate this form in what may be his last international tournament.

Other top players include Juventus duo Arkadiusz Milik and Wojciech Szczesny, Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash and Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski to name a few.

Time is running out for Poland however to make use of this current crop of talented players.