How to stammer his first match in the World Cup?
It is to Argentina, hooked by the humble Saudi Arabia that you have to ask.
Incredible but true.
Magic of the eternally renewed World Cup... Scaloni's team, champions of South America 2021, undefeated for three years and 36 games, fell to Saudi Arabia who had won so far only 3 of his 16 World Cup matches (2 draws, 11 losses).
Episode 1: Argentina walk around but have three goals disallowed
However, this Argentina - Saudi Arabia did not have 10 minutes before Lionel Messi had launched his 5th World Cup and that of the Albiceleste under the best omens: a penalty transformed at or near step, with a flat left foot uncrossed , while Al-Owais, the Saudi goalkeeper, rushed on the right side (1-0, 10th) - Messi's 7th goal in the World Cup.
Generous penalty for an ultra classic strapping by Abdulhamid on Paredes, well exploited by the former Parisian and granted by Mr. Vincic, the Slovenian referee, after viewing.
But after that, success and grinta seemed to elude the Argentines a bit, who were very eager to take cover at the scoreboard, while neglecting to pack the game.
Consequence: three goals disallowed in the first period for an offside position for Messi (22nd) and two for Lautaro Martinez, obviously too impatient to open his goal counter in the World Cup (27th and 35th).
Episode 2: the improbable Saudi awakening
On the Saudi side, the players of Hervé Renard, first in their qualifying group ahead of Japan and Australia (a single defeat), had not come to make up the numbers, in a stadium largely behind them.
Athletically competitive and technically advanced for some, the regionals of the stage, 12 of whom play for the same club Al-Hilal, did not hesitate to go on the offensive , even if it means leaving spaces behind their backs for South American artificers.
And at the start of the second half, the sky fell on the Argentines' heads in the space of five minutes, too senators or too tense for their debut, despite the advantage of a goal - the penalty scored by Messi from the 10th minute.
Well served in the middle following a lost ball in the center circle, Al-Shehri, with a left-footed cross shot into the side netting, transformed the first Saudi shot on target into a goal, playing with his bodyguard Romero (1-1, 49th).
And the Lusail stadium, mostly Saudi green, to explode with joy and pride...
[🎞️Video - ⚽️But] 🏆 #FifaWorldcup
💥 𝗔𝗹 -𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝘀𝗲̀𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗹'𝗔𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 !!
➡️ Saudi Arabia picks up the score #ARGKSA #beINFWC2022 https://t.co/C4KmnTwZde
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 22, 2022
Episode 3: Al-Dawsari Skylight
Then, still taking advantage of Argentina's passivity, Al-Dawsari doubled the bet, sending from the angle of the Argentinian surface a shot from the right out of reach of Emiliano Martinez (1-2, 53rd).
A magnificent, exceptional goal – perhaps one of the most beautiful of this World Cup?
- which allows Saudi Arabia to pass in front.
Unthinkable.
[🎞️Video - ⚽️But] 🏆 #FifaWorldcup
😱😱😱 𝑾𝑶𝑶𝑾𝑾𝑾 𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆 𝒅'𝑨𝒍 -𝑫𝒂𝒘𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒊 !!!
☄️ A goal from elsewhere that allows Saudi Arabia to lead against Lionel Messi's Argentina #ARGKSA #beINFWC2022 pic.twitter.com/TeM9zabxYH
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 22, 2022
Episode 4: heroic defense, concussion and... 15 minutes of additional time
In the last half hour, of course, the Albiceleste multiplied the offensives on the goal of Al-Owais but the attempts of Tagliafico (63rd), Lautaro (69th and 74th), Di Maria (72nd) and Messi -even on a free kick (81st) and a header (84th) were unsuccessful.
The end of the game is suffocating.
The Saudi goalkeeper injured one of his own players in an aerial duel, the latter leaving the field with a knockout and a very likely concussion.
[🎞️VIDEO] 🏆 #FIFAWorldCup
😱 𝑨𝒊̈𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒄!
💥 With a knee in the face, the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper knocks out his defender!
👉 Very impressive images...#beINFWC2022 #ARGKSA https://t.co/I5TXtjV3Ak
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 22, 2022
It borders on the irrational: for 15 minutes of added time, the Saudis are eleven behind and clear all the balls.
A final save from Al-Owais from a header from Alvarez, Argentina's Lusail siege didn't lead to the equaliser.
Saudi Arabia holds its historic victory.
