Group C at the 2022 World Cup will arguably suffer the most nerve-shredding final set of group stage games, with all four teams still in contention to make the knockout stages. This is in part due to Saudi Arabia’s historic 2-1 win against Argentina in their group opener, though their crushing 2-0 loss to Poland last time out blew the group wide open.
That result leaves a medley of permutations for Saudi Arabia’s hopes of a first progression from the group stage since their debut at the tournament in 1994, with the path of least resistance being if they were to win here or at least better the result of Argentina given their current inferior goal difference. A Mexico side they’ve never beaten before (D1, L4) stand in the way of the Saudis reaching that dream in what will be their 19th historical game at the World Cup finals, with all those matches strangely coming against different opposition!
Mexico’s situation proves much more complex since they do not have the pleasure of determining their own destiny, as only a win would bring them into contention to qualify for a ninth consecutive World Cup knockout phase appearance. A win for Mexico coupled with Poland beating Argentina would see the Tricolor advance, otherwise a draw or an Argentina victory would see goal difference come into play, with Mexico’s currently the worst in the group.
That could prove the worst-case scenario for Mexico, considering they’ve failed to score in their last four matches at the World Cup finals (D1, L3), casting serious doubt over their ability to get the win needed as the bare minimum requirement. Those doubts are only compounded when looking at their record in the last group game of a World Cup tournament, having won only once in their last seven such matches (D3, L3).
Players to watch: Saudi Arabia’s match-winner against Argentina Salem Al-Dawsari will once again attempt to prove influential, having scored his country’s opener in five of his last seven goalscoring outings. With their knockout hopes hanging by a thread, Mexico will hope their good luck charm Hirving Lozano can pull them out the fire, having never lost when the forward scores (W13, D1).
Hot stat: Saudi Arabia have only ever kept one clean sheet in their 18 games at the World Cup finals.
World Cup trivia: Mexico’s 16 prior appearances at the World Cup finals is the most of any nation yet to be crowned world champions.
