Saudi Arabia opened Group C motion on the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 win in opposition to two-time champions Argentina. The end result ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten streak since shedding to Brazil within the 2019 Copa America semi-finals.
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Argentina took a first-half lead by means of Lionel Messi, who turned the primary of 5 World Cup appearances for the Albiceleste, within the tenth minute after a penalty was awarded by VAR. The 1978 and 1986 champions hit the ball on purpose 3 times within the first half, however had been dominated offside twice for a Lautaro Martínez purpose and one other for Messi’s left-footed strike as Argentina held on to their one-goal lead. Gone at halftime.
Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked staff within the event after Ghana, debuted in Argentina’s protection within the second half in entrance of an 88,012 crowd as Saleh El-Shehri, who was too sharp for Romero, slotted in a low shot. What was Saudi Arabia’s first shot heading in the right direction to equalize within the forty eighth minute.
Five minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari curled and curled the ball out of the sky close to the left nook of the field, earlier than curling a shot into the highest nook roller away from the sting of the field to finish the Asian facet’s comeback.
Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina. @adidasfootball , #FIFA World Cup
– FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 22, 2022
Despite a lot possession within the latter phases of the sport, Argentina had been unable to attract in opposition to Saudi Arabia, who had been competing of their sixth World Cup however had by no means gained a gap sport earlier than.
The defeat for the Lionel Messi-led facet meant they might go into their subsequent two video games in opposition to Mexico and Poland with a excessive danger of being knocked out within the group phases of the competitors.
most iconic white shirt in soccer
Saudi Arabia supervisor Hervé Renard’s white shirt, which is worn with out buttons on the highest, is a superstition of types for the two-time AFCON-winning coach. Renard gained the African Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and repeated the feat with Ivory Coast in 2015.
Ahead of the World Cup, Renard advised Esquire, “We (Zambia) were playing in the second game of the (2010) Africa Cup of Nations against Cameroon,” Renard recalled to Esquire. “I wore a light blue shirt, but we lost 3–2, so in the next game I wore a white shirt. We won and finished first in the group in front of Cameroon.”
“Of course I have lost some games since then,” stated the Frenchman. “Perhaps I’ve misplaced loads too. But I additionally gained loads. I like this type however I might say the climate needs to be good. When I coached in England, a white shirt was not doable in December. Or perhaps that is why I could not reach England!”
Will there be a Rolls Royce for Saudi Arabia’s purpose scorer?
Saudi Arabia is thought for opening its coronary heart and purse to its World Cup purpose scorers. In his World Cup debut in 1994, he was a 500-1 outsider, however he raised the bar in an enormous means. Against Belgium, he scored a purpose that was lengthy considered the nation’s finest ever purpose. Striker Saeed Al-Owairan got here up with a magical run of 70 yards to seek out the web. Al-Owairan was to take a Rolls-Royce after returning residence. For Al Dawsar and Al Shehri, the 2 purpose scorers within the 2022 event, it is likely to be time for a storage replace.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
