Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski head into Wednesday's showdown between Argentina and Poland with the futures of what could be their final World Cup adventures hanging in the balance.

Argentina on Tuesday issued a warning to Poland ahead of their final World Cup Group C match on Wednesday, saying they may have slipped and stumbled through their first two group matches but have yet to hit peak form.

A shirtless Lionel Messi sang and danced with team mates beyond midnight into Sunday after leading Argentina to an emotionally-charged win over Mexico that revived his dream of a first World Cup title.

Two decades have gone by since South America last won the World Cup. Brazil’s 2002 triumph coincided with the first time the tournament was staged in Asia. Now, as the World Cup returns to the continent, might that long dry run come to an end?  Brazil and Argentina, South America’s big two, are looking very good in the run up to Qatar. In fact, it is hard to think of a time when the pair of them have looked better.

Sublime strikes by Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez earned Argentina a 2-0 win over feisty Mexico in a pulsating atmosphere at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday and got the South American favourites' World Cup campaign up and running.

For fans of the Argentinia team, these five books can be a portal to favourite moments in football history. 

Contrasting moods will accompany Poland and Saudi Arabia into their World Cup Group C clash on Saturday, with all the pressure on the Poles after they started with a disappointing goalless draw while the Saudis shocked Argentina.

With flags flying everywhere and people putting on football shirts, it’s a magical time. But nobody makes the most of this time like Argentina or Brazil fans. It is said often that Bengalis are a passionate lot and it certainly shows when the World Cup begins.

Argentina's and Mexico's big and boisterous fan bases were out in force on Friday as one of Latin American football's biggest rivalries spiced up the World Cup ahead of their latest clash.

Argentina hope to restore their status as a tournament favourite against goal-shy Mexico in their Group C clash on Saturday where both heavyweights of Latin American football need to improve on disappointing starts to the World Cup.

Argentina will seek to save their World Cup skins in Qatar on Saturday when Lionel Messi and his teammates face Mexico in a match they cannot afford to lose.

 Argentina are looking to put their shock 2-1 opening defeat by Saudi Arabia behind them as they prepare for their World Cup Group C match against Mexico on Saturday, a game they now feel they absolutely must win.

Here’s how we might see a Brazil vs Argentina match this World Cup.

Rafa Nadal knows all about resilience in sport and the 22-times Grand Slam tennis champion said Lionel Messi's Argentina can shake off the disappointment of their stunning World Cup defeat by Saudi Arabia and have a deep run in Qatar. knows all about resilience in sport and the 22-times Grand Slam tennis champion said Lionel Messi's Argentina can shake off the disappointment of their stunning World Cup defeat by Saudi Arabia and have a deep run in Qatar.

Lionel Messi's Argentina must put aside injured pride after a shock defeat by Saudi Arabia and summon the fighting spirit of their similarly-bruised 1990 predecessors if they want to bring home the World Cup for a third time.

Few experiences can compare to watching a World Cup in Brazil: the borderline-obsessive football passion; the explosion of pride around the national team. And the schadenfreude when rivals Argentina lose.

Saudi Arabia's 2-1 victory over Argentina on Tuesday is rated the biggest shock in World Cup history by data company Nielsen Gracenote, moving ahead of the previous biggest upset, the United States' win over England in 1950.

Lionel Messi got his and Argentina's World Cup campaign off to a perfect start with a spot-kick in the 10 th minute against Saudi Arabia in their Group C opener at the Lusail Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.

Renowned actor Chanchal Chowdhury, who has also been caught up in the craze surrounding the World Cup, spoke to The Daily Star about his favourite team.

Argentina head into the World Cup as one of the clear favourites