Argentina’s friendly versus UAE should give Saudi Arabia a few World Cup pointers

Lionel Messi’s latest, and likely last, assault on the World Cup has garnered a Middle Eastern flavor.

If the game’s greatest talent is to belatedly lift the sport’s grandest trophy this winter, he’ll do it in Qatar — while employed by Qatar Sports Investments’ Paris Saint-Germain.

The 35-year-old will take to the pitch in Doha on Nov. 22 for Argentina’s Group C clash with Saudi Arabia at Lusail Iconic Stadium.

By then, he and his colleagues will have finalized their World Cup preparations in Abu Dhabi, with an open training session held at Al-Nahyan Stadium on Nov. 13 and a final friendly tune-up on Nov. 16 at the 42,000-capacity Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

It is the symbiotic relationship between these Gulf neighbors that holds intrigue. Just what is La Albiceleste likely to gain from a run-out versus FIFA’s 70th-ranked country, and one recently dismantled 4-0 by South American also-rans Venezuela?

Conversely, can Saudi Arabia expect to glean anything from their vaunted opponents’ taste of a local competitor as the region’s strongest football nation bids to prevent a repetition of 2018’s dispiriting start?

The attractions of Abu Dhabi are obvious.

Lionel Scaloni’s men land in an emirate which has cemented its reputation as a major global sports hub. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, NBA, Yas Marina’s Formula 1 circuit, Mubadala World Tennis Championship and golf’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship are just some of the competitions lured there.

Football has also played a sizeable role.

First-class facilities utilized at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup were further upgraded for the successful return of the FIFA Club World Cup in February of this year.

Close to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, eventual champions