DOHA, Qatar — Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has said that he lost a €100 bet with Lionel Messi before the Argentina forward missed a penalty during his team’s 2-0 World Cup win at Stadium 974 in Qatar.
Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez were enough to seal victory and top spot in Group C for the 2021 Copa America winners, who will now face Australia in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
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And Poland also made it into the knockout stages, despite losing to Argentina, after edging out Mexico on goal difference to book a tie with world champions France on Sunday.
Szczesny’s penalty save from Messi would ultimately prove crucial for Poland in the goal difference battle with Mexico, but the decision by referee Danny Makkelie to award the spot-kick surprised the Juventus goalkeeper, who was judged to have caught Messi in the face with his arm while collecting an aerial ball.
Makkelie reviewed the incident on VAR before awarding the penalty and Szczesny said he was so convinced that the referee would reject the penalty claims that he made a bet with Messi.
