Two Napoli players squared off at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Tuesday, as Poland played against Mexico in Group C.
Hirving Lozano played the full 90 minutes, lined up on the right wing in Mexico’s 4-3-3 formation. Lozano played very close to the touch line, as Gerardo Martino hoped to stretch Poland’s back five.
El Chucky was a constant threat, playing numerous crosses into the area. When he didn’t cross, he looked to pick out the runs of Hector Herrera and Jorge Sanchez, so they could cross into the area. However, Poland’s back line defended the cross well, limiting Mexico’s shooting chances.
With Poland’s defense expecting him to go wide, the Napoli winger occasionally cut inside to provide a different look in the attack.
With Uriel Antuna replacing Alexis Vega in the 84th minute, Lozano shifted to play on the left wing, where he has often featured for his country.
Meanwhile, Piotr Zielinski had less of an impact on the match, playing alongside Robert Lewandowski in Poland’s 3-5-2 formation.
In his 86 minutes of play, Zielinski had ten fewer touches (34) than Lozano (44). However, in the 54th minute, the Napoli midfielder made one of the most important touches of the match, dispossessing Edson Alvarez in the Mexico half.
One pass later, Lewandowski was pulled down in the area and eventually awarded a penalty kick after match official Chris Beath was called to the monitor by the VAR. Lewandowski took the penalty kick himself, but was stopped by Giullermo Ochoa, who is competing in his fifth World Cup.
Though he lined up as a second striker, Zielinski often dropped into the Poland midfield to act as a playmaker. Perhaps this was by design or perhaps it was a force of habit, playing regularly in that role for Napoli.
