Scaloni insists Argentina did not take Saudis lightly
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni insisted on Tuesday his team had not taken Saudi Arabia lightly ahead of their shocking 2-1 World Cup defeat in Qatar.
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Argentina manager urges players to keep 'chin up' after stunning loss
Argentinian manager Lionel Scaloni said his players needed to refocus and look ahead to their next matches after their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their World Cup opener in Qatar in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.
World Cup shockwave as Saudi Arabia stun Messi's Argentina
Saudi Arabia stunned Lionel Messi's Argentina on Tuesday, beating the two-time winners 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Saudi Arabia shock Messi’s Argentina at World Cup
DOHA: Saudi Arabia stunned Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Tuesday, beating the two-time winners 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Salem Al-Dawsari hit a stunning winner to sink the red-hot favorites, bringing the South American side’s 36-match unbeaten run to a shuddering halt. The win was fully deserved after Saudi Arabia came from behind after Saleh Al-Shehri canceled out an early Lionel Messi penalty. Playing a risky high defensive line, the athletic Saudis rode their luck in the first half when three times Argentina had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside call. But in a chaotic start to the second half, the Saudis swarmed all over Lionel Scaloni’s team and scored twice as the Arab nation beat the South Americans for the first time in five attempts. In a first half dominated by Argentina, it seemed only a matter of time before Saudi Arabia’s risky defensive tactics would cost them. That condensed the game into a sliver of green turf around the halfway line as the Asian side happily allowed Argentina’s back four to pass the ball among themselves. It seemed Saudi Arabia were facing a long afternoon after VAR intervened to award a penalty when Saud Abdulhamid wrestled Leandro Paredes to the ground in the box at a corner. Messi waited for goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais to dive to his left before cooly rolling the ball into the opposite corner. But if the Saudis felt aggrieved at the technology, it would later help keep them in the game.
World Cup 2022: What to expect on Day 3
The Word Cup moved up a notch on Day 2 as the three games produced 12 goals, eight of those coming in England's 6-2 win over Iran.
Argentina are not obliged to win World Cup, says Scaloni
AL RAYYAN: Argentina have no obligation to win the World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni said ahead of their opener against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (Nov 22), adding that it was mere details that will decide who will become the champions.
Messi's Argentina expected to roll over Saudis in Group C opener
DOHA : Lionel Messi's Argentina have an easy-looking start to the World Cup on Tuesday based on blistering recent form and opponents Saudi Arabia's history of drubbings in tournament openers.
Argentina at the 2022 World Cup: who is in Lionel Scaloni's 26-man squad?
Argentina will be looking to win a third World Cup title at the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament in Qatar. Here is what you need to know about their squad: