Lionel Messi and his Argentinians dream of the title at the World Cup – but the tournament favorite is grounded in the first game. The “Albiceleste” lost 1:2 against the blatant outsider Saudi Arabia and gambled away an early lead.
First cool from the point, but then sensationally sidelined: Lionel Messi made an embarrassing false start with Argentina in the hunt for the third World Cup title. The Albiceleste lost to the brave and effective world number 51. Saudi Arabia in Group C completely surprisingly 1: 2 (1: 0) and already has to worry about the round of 16 entry. In any case, the pressure is enormous before the duels with Mexico and Poland.
The unexpected setback ended after 1238 days and 36 games immediately before setting the world record of Italy (37) the series of games without defeat. Messi (10th) took the early lead with a penalty kick after video evidence. Saleh Alsheri (48th) and Salem Aldawsari (53rd) took heart in hand, turned the game around for the growing outsider and caused Argentina’s first defeat since 1990.
The area around the impressive Lusail Stadium was transformed by the numerous Argentinian fans into a party zone long before kick-off, paying homage to their idol Messi with drums and loud chants. He went into his fifth World Cup with particular tension, with which he catches up with the record holders around Lothar Matthäus. “It’s a special moment, the last chance to make my dream and ours come true,” emphasized the 35-year-old. That might be difficult now.
Messi first turned up the heat in front of 88,012 spectators, after just 95 seconds he forced goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais to make a brilliant save with a shot from 14 meters. Then referee Slavko Vincic pointed to the point with the help of video evidence after Saud Abdulhamid had saved Leandro Paredes, Messi completed the cool run-up with a casual stop for the 92nd international goal. His second goal (22′) and Lautaro Martinez’s (27′, 35′) didn’t count due to being offside.
In general, however, Saudi Arabia designed the game a little more openly than expected, playing boldly at times with three points. In the last third, however, there was a complete lack of penetrating power. Instead, the Saudis gave up enormous space behind their own back four with their high attack, but the Argentines repeatedly ran into the offside trap. In the first half, three goals were disallowed for offside positions.
And after the change, the underdog struck ice cold instead, Alsheri (48th) and Aldawsari (53rd) scored with fantastically placed shots. The Argentines reacted with furious attacks, Nicolas Tagliafico (63rd) failed from three meters at Alowais. However, Lionel Scaloni’s team often lacked ideas, the Saudis selflessly threw themselves into every ball in their own penalty area. And when there were chances, such as for Messi with a header (84th), goalkeeper Aloweis was there.