Saudi Arabia stuns Argentina in Group C
Most American soccer followers went to mattress Monday evening able to skip Tuesday’s opening recreation. Higher to get some sleep than watch a blowout when Argentina goes to be within the match for some time proper? Saudi Arabia entered Group C’s opening match as a +1800 underdog (per BetMGM odds) to win and gave up a aim to Lionel Messi within the tenth minute. Proper the place the Saudis wish to be.
In one of many greatest upsets in World Cup historical past, Saudi Arabia scored two early second-half targets to take down Argentina and put an enormous dent into the South American large’s possibilities of advancing to the knockout stage, a lot much less successful the entire rattling match.
“It’s a very exhausting blow for everybody, we didn’t count on to start out this fashion,” Messi stated after the sport. “Issues occur for a motive. Now we have to organize for what’s coming, we’ve got to win, and it is dependent upon us.
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“There aren’t any excuses. We’re going to be extra united than ever. This group is robust, and we’ve got proven it. It’s a state of affairs that we haven’t gone by in a very long time. Now we’ve got to indicate that this can be a actual group.”
In a gaggle accomplished by Mexico and Poland, Argentina’s path to successful Messi his first World Cup in what’s possible his ultimate alternative simply acquired lots more durable. Saudi Arabia was written off as Group C’s punching bag, with Argentina simply advancing alongside another person. That script is over. It’ll take a large push for Messi and buddies to make the ultimate 16 now.
A number of Argentina targets have been taken off the board by VAR, with every of these callbacks being inches from standing. That’s why the largest match on the planet has assist from video officers, to get the calls proper. And with these appropriate selections, Argentina is on the fallacious facet of one of many greatest upsets in World Cup historical past.
“Now we have to rise up,” stated Argentina coach Coach Lionel Scaloni after the loss. “It’s a tragic day right now however we have to have our heads up and proceed. We’re damage however we have to flip issues round and win our subsequent video games.
“We proceed to imagine the identical as we did earlier than. The World Cup has this, you may be infinitely superior, and issues don’t go your method.
“Happily, we’ve got two group video games, and we’re going to get it accomplished.”
