Saudi Arabia pulled a landmark World Cup upset on Tuesday by profitable 2-1 towards Argentina.
It left Lionel Messi standing along with his arms on his hips close to the centre circle as Saudi Arabia’s jubilant gamers ran in all instructions round him.
Whereas Argentina ranks as FIFA’s third finest group in 2022, Saudi Arabia are 51st.
In response to his group’s defeat, Messi mentioned: “The reality? Useless. It is a very onerous blow as a result of we didn’t count on to begin on this manner.”
The 35-year-old soccer veteran, taking part in in his fifth — and sure his ultimate — World Cup for Argentina, scratched the aspect of his head and shook arms with a Saudi teaching workers member after the ultimate whistle.
Messi had began by giving Argentina the lead, changing a penalty within the tenth minute for his 92nd worldwide aim.
However objectives by Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari in a five-minute span within the second half gave the Saudis an unprecedented victory.
Saudi Arabia’s comeback — their earlier greatest win was towards Belgium in 1994 — is one amongst different main World Cup upsets: Cameroon’s 1-0 defeat of a Diego Maradona-led Argentina within the 1990 World Cup; Senegal’s 1-0 victory over defending champion France 1-0 within the 2002 opener; or the USA beating England by the identical rating in 1950.
“All the celebs aligned for us,” Saudi Arabia supervisor Hervé Renard declared. “We made historical past for Saudi soccer.”
“Right this moment is a tragic day however as we at all times say, head up and keep on,” mentioned Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. “[Saudi Arabia] are an excellent group with technical gamers, they’re very nicely ready bodily.”
