After a hectic first six months as manager of Manchester United, the 2022 World Cup has given Erik ten Hag some much-needed downtime.
Although the Red Devils have plans during the month-long break - such as a training camp in Spain to escape Manchester's bitter winter weather - the pressure is currently being eased on Ten Hag while many members of his squad are competing in Qatar.
But that doesn't mean the Dutchman can completely switch off - especially not for two hours on Wednesday night. That's because - aside from watching rumoured transfer target Enzo Fernandez in action once again - United defender Lisandro Martinez will also be representing Argentina, as they bid to reach the knockout stage following their Group C finale against Poland.
After Martinez was made to wait for his first ever World Cup start, which came in Saturday's gritty 2-0 win against Mexico, the 24-year-old is now preparing to face Poland's Robert Lewandowski in what should be a much tougher test of his defensive prowess.
But why should Ten Hag be so interested in how Martinez fares in his battle with the Barcelona striker? Well, the Red Devils are coincidentally due to face Lewandowski's Barca in February as part of a mouthwatering Europa League play-off bout.
Although Martinez - who Ten Hag splurged £57million on during the summer transfer window - will miss the first leg at the Camp Nou through suspension, he'll return for the Old Trafford clash and likely be crucial if United are to progress into the last 16. Lewandowski, despite his patchy form of late, remains one of the world's most feared strikers and will meet the Argentine for the first time in his career when their two nations thrash it out at Stadium 974.
Martinez knows the task at hand, too, having been up for media duties for Argentina on Tuesday. "Tomorrow we have to be on our feet," the former Ajax stalwart, whose country need a win to guarantee qualification into the World Cup knockouts, declared. "We know that Lewandowski moves very well and is in goal situations all of the time. We have to be focused throughout the game until the end."
If Martinez can keep the prolific Pole quiet on Wednesday, then Ten Hag should have a blueprint for how to defend Barcelona's danger man come February. As far as their first meeting is concerned, Lewandowski will be buoyed by the fact he scored his 77th international goal on Saturday - only his first at a World Cup.
The 34-year-old capitalised on an error in Saudi Arabia 's back line to seal a smash-and-grab 2-0 win in Al Rayyan, with Poland now only needing a draw to book their ticket for the round of 16. During an uncharacteristically wild celebration, Lewandowski couldn't hide his emotions and they came through once more when speaking to TVP Sport post-match.
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"When I scored, everything inside of me - not just the dreams, but also the importance of the goal... I realise how hard I fought for it. How we all fought for this today," he beamed. "The older I get, the more emotional I get. As for the World Cup, it may be my last. That's how I prepared for it and I wanted to point out that not only was I at the World Cup, but I scored a goal or goals. I hope that will be the case."
Elsewhere, however, Lewandowski missed a penalty in Poland's opening contest with Mexico and squandered two further guilt-edged chances in their nervy victory over Saudi Arabia. With that in mind, Martinez should be confident about frustrating the master marksman and potentially dumping Poland out of the competition altogether.
