Big favorites at the final coronation of the Qatari World Cup, Lionel Messi and his teammates were beaten by the Saudis (1-2) on Tuesday in Lusail, after having led to the break.
by Walid Kachour
A few months ago, the Saudis called Argentinian Lionel Messi tourism ambassador in their country. However, it is a pure local product, Salem al-Dawsari, which offered to the kingdom the most beautiful sporting exhibition in its history. In a Lusail stadium – Qatar’s largest with 80,000 seats, – Package, spectators attended Tuesday, November 22 at the first glance of the World Cup.
The middle of 31 years allowed the green hawks to start competition with a prestige victory against Argentina: 1-2. The first meeting of group C especially recalled how much football is a sport defying the laws of reason. The Gulf Monarchy, 51 e nation in the FIFA ranking, and which had hitherto won only three games in five participations, struck one of the favorites in the final coronation. The Albiceleste, it starts the competition with zero point, of the unheard of since the 1990 edition. 2> three goals refused in the first period
The South Americans had nevertheless started the foot meeting on the floor. Lionel Messi thought he had done the hardest by opening the penalty score at the 10 e minute. The 35 -year -old striker, who confirmed that he was competing in the emirate his last World Cup, was even in the very closed circle of scorers on four different editions (2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022).
But three goals refused for offside in the first period kept the Saudis in the game. And everything changed on the return from the locker room. The selection trained by Frenchman Hervé Renard has been able to show efficiency with only three strikes and two shots on top. Enough to drown the Argentines on two tips in five minutes. Saleh al-Shehri (48
Albiceleste players, who have remained unbeaten after their last 36 games for more than three years (one length from the world record set by Italy), were probably not expecting to fall from the outset, and left the paramount terrain, after almost a quarter of an additional time.
“The stars have lined up”
“It’s hard to swallow. In five minutes, they put two goals for us, their only two shots on top. Now, we just have to get up, to win the next two games. Today Hui is a sad day, but as we always say, we raise our heads and we continue, “reacted the coach of Argentina, Lionel Scaloni, at a press conference.
At the end of the match, Hervé Renard, he still seemed a little surprised by the performance of his men: “They went to look for something that sometimes made the difference.”
“Today, to summarize, the stars have aligned themselves for us (…). It is a memorable victory, it will remain in the annals, continued the coach of Saudi Arabia at a press conference. But We have to turn to the future, because we have two very difficult games left. “On Saturday November 26, his team will face Poland, then Mexico on November 30.