BOTH Poland and Argentina have it all to play for going into the last match of Group C and their star men start as the clash is UNDERWAY.
Robert Lewandowski's side sit top of the table on four points after victory over Saudi Arabia last time out and a draw against Mexico in the first match, and he leads the line for the Europeans.
Argentina are just behind on three points after defeat to Saudi Arabia and a win against Mexico and Lionel Messi is starting in attack for the South Americans.
The number 10 has already tested the Poland defence, shifting onto his left foot before unleashing a shot which has been saved.
- Start time: 7pm UK
- TV: BBC One
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer
- Group C: LIVE TABLE
- Poland XI: Szczesny, Glik, Kiwior, Cash, Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Bielik, Frankowski, Swiderski, Lewandowski
- Argentina XI: Martinez, Romero, Otamendi, Molina, De Paul, Acuna, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Di Maria, Alvarez, Messi
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Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
22, Kamil Glik flicks a cross towards goal that Emi Martinez comfortably collects.
Glik must be in his 60's by now, surely?
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
20, Matty Cash wins a free-kick for Poland just inside Argentina's half of the pitch.
That's was such a bizarre sentence to write.
Big fan of Matty Cash turning out for Poland though.
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
18, Messi picks out Acuna at the back post with a brilliant pass to the back post but the full back can't direct his header on target.
Poland can't afford to keep giving Messi this much space.
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
Fabio Capello always used to say that the modern tactical shape was not 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 but “9-1”.
Well, Poland are slightly varying from that. It’s 8-1-1.
At least, it is as soon as Argentina get within 40 yards of their goal.
The noise from the Argentine fans is relentless, too. Especially when you know who gets near the ball.
Martin LiptonSunSport
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
15, Poland are giving a better account of themselves now.
They're doing their best to hold onto possession for a bit longer rather than just knocking it long for Lewandowski at the first opportunity.
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
11, Messi tests Szczesny!
Messi finds space inside the Poland penalty area, shifts the ball onto his left foot and fires it towards the near post.
Szczesny is equal to it and palms the ball out for a corner.
It's all Argentina here.
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
9, Romero makes his first foul on]f the game for a late tackle on Lewandowski near the halfway line.
I don't think that'll be Romero's last...
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
Not sure if the TV cameras pick it up but there’s more than a hint of purple about this Argentina change kit.
And an awful lot of white shirts between the South American attacking line and Wojciech Szczesny’s goal.
Does seem like it will be a high-stakes version of attack against defence for most of the 90 minutes.
Martin LiptonSunSport
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
7, Messi has a strike at goal but it's a weak effort taken off-balance on his right foot.
The Argentina number 10 won the ball on the edge of the Poland penalty area but was quickly surrounded by white shirts.
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
6, There's a nice intensity to this game in the opening stages.
Argentina are swarming all over the Poland players whenever they are in possession.
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
5, Emi Martinez boots the ball out of play while under pressure from Robert Lewandowski.
What's the Spanish word for hoof?
Poland 0 – 0 Argentina
3, It's a positive start for Argentina as an early corner is headed over by Otamendi.
Kick-off: Poland 0 - 0 Argentina
Peep! Referee Danny Makkelie blows his whistle and gets us underway here.
Are we about to witness Messi's last ever World Cup match?
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
There are knots of Polish fans dotted around Stadium 974.
But they are almost lost in a sea of light blue and white and an atmosphere of desperate expectation.
This is what the World Cup is all about.
Pure passion. Pure adrenaline. Pure football.
Martin LiptonSunSport
Anthems
Both teams are about to belt out their respective national anthems in Stadium 974.
Kick-off is coming up next!
Players in the tunnel
The players are in the tunnel and are about to take to the field.
You can see the tension on the players faces, they know this is a big game.
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
This doesn’t feel like Doha. More like Buenos Aires.
It’s a home game for Argentina - 8,000 miles FROM home.
You don’t have to ask who they are placing their faith in.
But that burden is a huge one, even for Messi. Especially as he knows the price of failing to win this evening.
Martin LiptonSunSport
Poland vs Argentina WC history
These two sides last faced off in the 1978 World Cup where Mario Kempes scored twice in a 2-0 win for Argentina.
Argentina of course went on to beat the Netherlands in the final as La Albiceleste won their first World Cup.
Lionel Messi and co will be hoping that history repeats itself in Qatar.
Tonight's venue
Stadium 974 is a temporary stadium in Doha made of 974 shipping containers.
974 is also the international dialing code for Qatar.
The stadium is the first temporary venue in World Cup history and is designed to be dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere after the end of the tournament.
The stadium has a listed capacity of 44,089 – but we’ll see about that later on…
Betfair
Argentina are the bookies’ favourites tonight.
- Poland - 15/2
- Argentina - 2/5
- Draw - 7/2
Odds provided by betfair.
Messi heat map
Argentina’s talisman has the freedom to take up whichever position he chooses when he plays for his country.
Messi wanders around the pitch, picking and choosing his moments to come alive.
A look at his heatmap from the Mexico game highlights the freedom with which he is afforded for La Albiceleste.
Warm-ups underway
Both sets of players are out on the pitch and are being put through their paces by their respective fitness coaches.
Kick off is in 30 minutes' time.
Bobble head
Right, I’ve just spotted this fan wearing an enormous Messi bobble head.
BRB I’m off to cop myself one of these.
Delivery in time for Christmas…get in!
Lewandowski unleashed
Poland’s talisman finally removed the monkey from his back during Poland’s last match against Saudi Arabia.
Lewandowski has been among the top scorers in Europe over the past few seasons but, until last Saturday, had never scored a goal for his country in the World Cup.
Argentina will know that they can’t afford to give him a sniff of goal, especially now that he has a taste for them at the World Cup.
Messi family
Lionel Messi's family are in the stands tonight for what they hop will be another famous night for Argentina's most famous man.
Here's Antonela Roccuzzo and two of his kids looking a bit nervous.
