FIFA World Cup 2022: Live Match update, Injury news, and lineup predictions Mexico vs Poland

The match will be played in Stadium 974 of Qatar. 

Match Preview 

 In seven World Cups, Mexico has never advanced past the round of 16. Gerardo Martino, an ex-Argentina coach, and player, is in control of El Tri and must reverse the trend in Qatar. The 60-year-old led Mexico to their eighth Gold Cup win in 2019. He spent a year in Barcelona before joining Argentina in 2014. The United States earned vengeance in 2021. 

 Mexico qualified for the World Cup after defeating El Salvador 2-0 on the last match day, matching Canada for first place in CONCACAF and ending three points ahead of Costa Rica in the playoff berth. It remains to be seen if they have the talent to reach the final eight for the first time since hosting in 1986, but their forthcoming encounter against Poland might be crucial. 

Poland's first game against Argentina, the clear second favorite, will be critical if they are to go beyond the group stages for the first time since Mexico in 1986. After finishing third in 1974 and 1982, the Eagles dropped their first match in 2002, 2006, and 2018, winning one and losing two. 

 Czeslaw Michniewicz, a former Legia Warsaw manager, has taken over as head coach. He guided Poland to a 2-0 win against Sweden in a qualification play-off to proceed to Qatar. Their chances of success are dependent on Robert Lewandowski, who has yet to score at a World Cup after going scoreless in all three games in 2018. However, the 34-year-old is desperate to break that streak against Mexico on Tuesday, which may propel his squad to second place.

Match Timings and Head to Head

Kick off: 09:30 PM (IST), 4 PM (GMT).

Mexico form (all competitions): D-L-W-L-W-L

Poland form (all competitions): L-D-L-L-W-W

Live Match Preview

Injury and Team News

Raul Jimenez, who has 29 goals for Mexico, came off the bench at halftime of Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Sweden. Due to a groin ailment, the 31-year-old hasn't played for Wolverhampton Wanderers since August, making his starting place against Poland on Tuesday questionable. If Jimenez is only able to play on the bench, Henry Martin is ready to take over, while Jesus Corona is out with an ankle injury.

Poland's Bartlomiej Dragowski, Jacek Goralski, and Adam Buksa were all wounded. Michniewicz rested Lewandowski in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Chile to keep him fresh for the tournament.

Predicted Line-ups

Mexico (4-3-3): 

Ochoa; Sanchez, Montes, Moreno, Gallardo; Alvarez, Herrera, Guardado; Lozano, Martin, Vega

Poland (3-5-2): 

Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Kiwior; Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Szymanski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Lewandowski

Prediction for the Match

Mexico and Poland are likely to compete for second place in Group C, with Argentina dominating and Saudi Arabia significantly inferior. Defeat would make it difficult to go to the Round of 16, but success would certainly put the winner one win away from advancing. Poland plays Qatar's neighbors in their second group game, meaning they may have already earned a knockout position by the time they meet Argentina.