Saudi Arabia has stunned Argentina on Tuesday, November 22, defeating the two-time winners 2-1 in an amazing Group C match, and now it is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
The pre-match talk mainly focused on Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever, who is playing in what could likely be his last World Cup.
Saudi Arabia vs Argentina
Those who are familiar with the sport had expected that the South American team, undefeated for three years, ranked third in the world and one among the favorites to win the tournament, to easily sweep aside its opponent, ranked 51st in the FIFA rankings.
Argentina was in fact unbeaten in its last 36 matches - the second longest streak in the history of men's international soccer.
However, goals made by Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari in the first eight minutes of the second-half turned things around following Lionel Messi's lone goal on a penalty kick in the 10th minute and Argentina's first-half dominance.
Inside the Lusail Stadium, thousands of Saudi fans couldn't believe their eyes as they celebrated their unexpected victory.
Historic Win for Saudi Arabia
As much as this was indeed a historic win for Saudi Arabia, it was an utterly humiliating defeat for Argentina who succumbed on the biggest stage.
After the match, Saudi Arabia's coach, Frenchman Herve Renard said the team must not celebrate too much over what he described as a "totally crazy win."
Renard said, "All the stars in the sky were aligned for us. This is football, sometimes totally crazy things can happen. We needed to get this result, it will be one for the [history] books, but as a coach I'm always asking for more from my players, so let's stay humble."
Saudi team players smiled and laughed with reporters as they exited the stadium, a stark contrast to the Argentine squad who walked with their heads down as they hopped onto the team bus. Messi was one of the few who obliged to speak to journalists and even stopped for photos.
Messi, playing in his fifth World Cup, described his team's loss as a very heavy blow, "We didn't expect to start this way. We need to prepare for what is coming. We need to win or win, and that depends on us. We have to return to the foundation of who we are."
A Match of Firsts
It was incredibly a match of firsts: It's the first time Saudi Arabia had beaten Argentina. It's also the first win for a Middle East football team at this World Cup, which is also being held in the Middle East region for the very first time.
There's even more good news for Saudi fans who believe in unprecedented miracles.
The previous three teams to beat Argentina at a World Cup either went on to reach the final (Croatia in 2018), or better yet, ultimately win the competition (Germany in 2014 and France in 2018).
A Saudi fan said after the match, "I'm feeling very proud of my team. This is one of the craziest games I've seen in my whole life. Beating Argentina, one of the best teams in the world, it's like a dream. Playing in the World Cup is good, beating Argentina is something else, it's a different world."
Things are only getting started at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022!
Argentina is set to go against Mexico in its next group match on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia shall face Poland next.
Who's your favorite team to win this year's World Cup?
Source:
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-highlights-saudi-arabia-stuns-argentina-messi-in-historic-upset
