Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia as their highly anticipated 2022 World Cup campaign began with a seismic Group C defeat by the 750-1 outsiders, ranking as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the competition.
The Albiceleste, unbeaten in 36 matches over the past three years, went ahead with a 10th-minute penalty from captain Lionel Messi, looking to cap a wonderful career by winning the tournament at the fifth attempt.But Argentina failed to build on their first-half dominance, having three further goals — one for Messi, two for Lautaro Martinez — ruled out for offside.
They were made to pay in a remarkable opening to the second half as Saudi Arabia first leveled and then went in front in the space of five sensational minutes.
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First Saleh Al-Shehri surged past Cristian Romero and clipped a left-footed shot into the far corner before, in the 53rd minute, Salem Al-Dawsari spun round, swerved away from a defender and curledin a brilliant effort from the left edge of the area into into the top-right corner.
Argentina tried to find a way back into the game, but Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais made a series of saves from Nicolas Tagliafico, Messi and Julian Alvarez to seal one of the most remarkable results in World Cup history.
Lautaro Martinez: The forward, who had two goals called back for offside pointed the finger at his own team.
“We lost the game due to our mistakes, more than anything in the second half. These are details that make the difference and we must correct them.
“We should have scored more than one goal in the first half but this is a World Cup and now we have two finals left.
Lionel Scaloni: Argentina's manager was philosophical about the loss.
"It's tough to process why in five minutes they scored two goals on us. We have no choice but to lift ourselves up. Today is a sad day.
"The first half was all us. Without the offsides [goals disallowed] on another day they would've been goals.
"Losing is never good, especially when you get the feeling that the game got away from us just like that.
"We came into the tournament strong, but these things happen in the World Cup. You can be infinitely superior, but in two plays things get complicated. Although we didn't play well in the second half, we had our chances.
"You can't pick when you lose. Luckily, we have two games ahead and we're going to get it done."
Saudi Arabia now have a chance of reaching the last 16 for only the second time as they prepare to face Poland next, while Argentina must pick themselves up before facing Mexico. Goals:
ARG — Lionel Messi (pen) — 10th min.
SAU — Saleh Al-Shehri — 48th min.
SAU — Salem Al-Dawsari — 53rd min.
Lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23-E. Martinez (GK) — 26-Molina, 13-Romero (Martinez 59'), 19-Otamendi, 3-Tagliafico (Acuna 71') — 7-De Paul, 5-Paredes (Fernandez 59'), 17-Gomez (Alvarez 71') — 10-Messi, 22-Martinez, 11-Di Maria
Saudi Arabia (4-3-3, right to left): 21-Al-Owais (GK) — 12-Abdulhamid, 17-Tambakti, 5-Al-Boleahi, 13-Al-Shahrani — 9-Al-Buraikan 23-Kanno, 8-Al-Malki, 7-Al-Faraj (Al-Abid 45+4'), 10-Al-Dawsari — 11-Al-Shehri
Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia World Cup match, as it happened
Lionel Messi: The Argentina superstar appeared miffed in the mixed zone speaking to media following the match.
"I'm fine. The result hurts. It's really bitter, but we've got to keep growing and we've got to think about the next games. ... My ankle is fine."
Angel Di Maria: Angel Di Maria expounded a bit more on the result and how it happened:
"I think we created many situations to convert and we couldn't do it. They shot on goal two or three times and scored twice. That was the game"
"They played with a high line and we had a lot of opportunities to put balls in behind, but they were offside by millimeters and that's what happened ... We knew they played like that and we worked on it ... We could've easily won 5-0."
"Before [the World Cup] we weren't the best and now we're not the worst. We have to work. We have two finals to play in order to advance. And we think positive as we are. Today's game could've happened any time and the streak was going to end at some point."
Scaloni also targeted the new semi-automated offside technology:
"The more level-headed analysis we'll leave for tomorrow. But right off the bat we have two games and we have to win them. There's no other choice. The margin for error has reduced.
"The first half everything we planned came off. There was the offside by millimeters that today is an offside with the new rules but a month ago wasn't offside. We knew they held a high line and we needed to be in position to put ourselves closer to their goal. They do [the high line] well and have done it forever. The new rules favors this in situations when the offside is by millimeters like that."
Statistical context: The statisticians are coming up with some gems. How about this one: Argentina lost a World Cup game that it was leading at halftime for the first time since the 1930 final against Uruguay.
https://twitter.com/OptaJose/status/1595037763501711360/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595037763501711360%7Ctwgr%5Efaff8592110d5428e525bea61d02d505d835119e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fsoccer%2Fnews%2Fargentina-vs-saudi-arabia-world-cup-live-score-result%2Fguldh6njdecvphcvfjki22ze
Also, not sure that odds were being tracked back when the USA beat England in 1950, but there's no doubt it's among the biggest upsets in history.
https://twitter.com/OddsShark/status/1595038693756125194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595038693756125194%7Ctwgr%5Efaff8592110d5428e525bea61d02d505d835119e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fsoccer%2Fnews%2Fargentina-vs-saudi-arabia-world-cup-live-score-result%2Fguldh6njdecvphcvfjki22ze
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