Saudi Arabia entered the competition with little prospect of advancing past the opening match. Argentina was the favorite to win, especially after Messi scored a penalty kick within the first ten minutes. The underdogs rallied in the second half to defeat Argentina by a score of 2-1, causing a major shock.
Saleh Alsheri and Salem Al Dawsari both had successful shots. Salem ignited the spark among fans and team management as Argentina remained desperate to equalize the score. Nonetheless, their chances of a comeback were slim, as the goalkeeper in green displayed incredible talent against the world-class attack.
Argentina was attempting to equal Italy’s record of 37 consecutive victories. That went on a ride at an inappropriate moment. The previous time Argentina suffered an upset was in the 1990 FIFA World Cup; nonetheless, despite suffering a loss to Cameroon in the opening match, the squad made it to the final.
What this means for Argentina’s chances of reaching the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is unclear at this time. Group C’s upcoming contests are against Poland and Mexico. At this point, Argentina must prove why it is the best team in the group.
That will not be difficult considering that the team last lost in July 2019 against Brazil. Argentina redeemed the loss by claiming the CONMEBOL Copa America last summer. In the decisive match against Italy, the Messi-led team clinched the CONMEBOL UEFA Cup of Champions and became the favorites to win the cup.
Following the upset, Messi spoke to the media, noting that Saudi Arabia has good players with the ability to transfer the ball nicely and advance the defensive line significantly. He stated that the crew had attempted to avoid falling into the trap, but was unable to identify the optimal timing.
Argentina was certain to win the competition until Saudi Arabia tied the score. Argentina had a total of six shots on target with no added benefit. With an accuracy rate of 85%, the momentum remained with the favorites for approximately 70% of the time. Saudi Arabia, though, was able to get its fans up and dancing in the final moments.
This time, participants witnessed betting on FIFA rewarded risk-takers. It may not persist throughout the tournament, however. It’s important to keep an eye on the future development of the situation.
Argentina’s 10 offside calls compared to Saudi Arabia’s one offside call led to the upset. The winner is in first place with three points, while Argentina is yet to score.
Argentina has a potential to finish in first place if it returns as a stronger unit. There is no question that Argentina has superior statistics. It is still anticipated that Messi’s call for unity will push players to utilize their inherent talent on the pitch.
