<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>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.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Either one of two of the biggest stars of European club football could fail to qualify for the knockout stages in Qatar and end their careers without tasting glory at the most prestigious tournament of all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi has already netted twice in his last attempt to emulate Diego Maradona and win the World Cup for Argentina and is trying to drag the Albiceleste out of Group C after they were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opening match.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Argentina beat Mexico 2-0 to salvage their campaign and sit second, level on three points with the Saudis and one behind leaders Poland and only a win will guarantee that 35-year-old Messi's Qatar campaign continues into December.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">An Argentine exit would devastate fans back home and a worldwide army of Messi fans desperate to see him lift the World Cup.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It would also be a fitting climax to the career of one of football's greatest ever players, but coach Lionel Scaloni sees such histrionics as unnecessary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It's hard to make people understand that the sun will rise tomorrow, win or lose," he said after his side beat Mexico to get their challenge back on track.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"What matters is how you do things."</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lewandowski was brought to tears by fulfilling his "childhood dream" of scoring his first ever World Cup goal in what was his fifth match at the finals, a 2-0 win over the Saudis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Barcelona forward knows he might not get another chance on this stage should the Poles exit the tournament on Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I'm aware it might be my last World Cup and I wanted to be able to say that I've played and scored at World Cups," said the 34-year-old.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lewandowski is a safer bet to make the last 16 as Poland will be through with a win or a draw, and even if they lose they are only sure to be knocked out if the Saudis beat Mexico.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz insisted it wasn't simply a contest between the forwards despite the inevitable focus on the two big stars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It's not only a match between Lewandowski and Messi, it's not tennis," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">&nbsp;<b>- USA send Iran out -</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday, the United States reached the knockout phase by beating Iran 1-0 in a battle of geopolitical foes, earning a second round meeting with the Netherlands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Christian Pulisic's winner in the 38th minute of an absorbing contest in Doha eliminated the Iranians.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The meeting of the bitter ideological rivals had been marked by a bad-tempered buildup, with Iran's Football Federation demanding on Sunday that FIFA punish US Soccer for posting a modified version of their country's flag on social media.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The defeat ended a fraught campaign for Iran, whose every move in Qatar has been scrutinised for signs the players are showing support for mass anti-government protests that have shaken the Islamic republic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The dream is over," coach Carlos Queiroz said. "Unfortunately football always punishes the team that doesn't score."</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Americans finished two points behind England in Group B after Gareth Southgate's team cruised past Wales 3-0 in a one-sided 'Battle of Britain' decided by a Marcus Rashford brace and another strike from Manchester City star Phil Foden.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rashford said his double, which included a stunning free-kick to open the scoring in the 50th minute at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, was "what I play football for".</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I have massive ambition for this team and think we can play even better than we showed today," added Rashford.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">England will face Senegal on Sunday after Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly snatched a 2-1 win over Ecuador to finish second behind the Dutch in Group A and knock out the South Americans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Koulibaly said he would give late Senegalese icon Papa Bouba Diop's family his man-of-the-match award after firing the Lions of Teranga into the last 16 for the second time in their history.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cody Gakpo his third goal of the tournament as the Netherlands booked their place last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Qatar, which has spent $200 billion to host the World Cup, bow out of their own tournament with the worst ever performance by a host nation -- zero points and just one goal scored. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>