Argentina vs Saudi Arabia LIVE: World Cup 2022 result and reaction as Saudi Arabia claim stunning shock win
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Lionel Messi scored early on but a stunning comeback ensured an all-time great World Cup shock
Saudi Arabia beat Argentina to record one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with a 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s side thanks to a scintillating second-half comeback.
On his fifth and final quest for the only major trophy to elude him, the 35-year-old Messi scored a 10th-minute penalty in a dominant first-half display where he and Lautaro Martinez also had three goals disallowed for offside.
But Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament after Ghana, threw caution to the wind at the start of the second half, charging at Argentina’s defence in front of a frenzied 88,012 crowd.
Saleh Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot in the 48th minute while Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina and Messi looking utterly shell-shocked in the Group C opener. Despite plenty of possession after that, Argentina were unable to best Saudi Arabia, who were competing in their sixth World Cup but had never previously won an opening game.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
Mexico vs Poland
Poland will look to their talisman Robert Lewandowski to score the goals to take them into the World Cup knockout round for the first time in more than 35 years but he will need support.
The Poland captain signed for Barcelona in the close season following eight trophy-laden and record-filled years at Bayern Munich, a switch he had requested for months.
“After a long period of performing in one country, change is always something cool. I benefit from it very much,” Lewandowski said while on international duty in September.
More on him and his role in the Poland set-up here:
Poland’s World Cup chances hinge on provding support for talisman Robert Lewandowski
Poland will try to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1986 in Qatar
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia - MATCH REPORT
Ben Burrows at the Education City Stadium:
Kasper Hjulmand had told his Denmark side to “dream big” on the eve of this World Cup. But Tunisia have dreams too and gave their fancied European opponents everything they could handle and more in a hugely entertaining, blood and thunder clash at Education City Stadium.
The Danish coach has played down talk of his team being any kind of “favourites” for this tournament but after impressive qualifying and Nations League runs, where they beat France home and away, many have the Euro 2020 semi-finalists surpassing the quarter-finalists of 1998 and matching last summer or even better still here in Doha.
Tunisia are lucky to even be here after squeaking past Mali in a qualifying play-off with a healthy dose of good fortune, but a much-better run in qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations told of a side who quietly believed they too could make some noise.
If it was noise they wanted they got plenty from the stands here, their hugely vocal support - who far outnumbered their counterparts also decked in red and white - lustily booing the Danes as they came out to warm up, even with returning Christian Eriksen stepping on to a major tournament pitch for the first time since that fateful evening against Finland 18 months ago.
The decibel level only rose further as the relentless Aissa Laidouni started his afternoon as he meant to go on, clattering into Eriksen inside the first two minutes before roaring towards his supporters who, as they would go on to do throughout, roared back ever louder.
Tireless Tunisia earn deserved point against Denmark
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia: Yassine Mariah appeared to handle in stoppage time, but no penalty was given after a VAR review
Mexico vs Poland
Here’s a reminder of how the other Group C game played out today...
“A moment of authenticity in this tournament, yet one that seemed to defy reality.
“This World Cup has had its first classic shock, and maybe one of its biggest of all. An utterly stunned Argentina lost for the first time in 36 games, to an admirably adventurous Saudi Arabia, driven on by a raucous atmosphere. Manager Herve Renard pulled off another incredible feat.
“The fact they came from behind to win 2-1 only emphasised their spirit and resolve, and showed how even the most problematic World Cup is still driven by human sporting qualities. That is what Qatar are trying to buy. A further irony is that is what their complicated political rivals in Saudi Arabia will now use. What a venue for their greatest-ever World Cup victory, in the host’s prize stadium, not long after the Gulf blockade was lifted.
“And whatever talk of how the state will use the victory, this was the classic sporting story of footballers rising to greater levels, driven on by fans.”
Miguel Delaney with the match report from Qatar:
Saudi Arabia defy reality to stun Argentina with enormous World Cup shock
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari completed an incredible comeback at the Lusail Stadium, ending the Albiceleste’s 36-game unbeaten streak
Mexico vs Poland
Confirmed line-ups
Mexico: Ochoa; Montes, Moreno, Sanchez, Gallardo; Alvarez, Herrera, Chavez; Vega, Martin, Lozano
Poland: Szczesny; Cash, Kiwior, Glik, Beresynski, Zalewski; Krychowiak, Kaminski, Szymanski; Zielinski, Lewandowski
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia - PLAYER RATINGS
Denmark began their Qatar World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against Tunisia on Tuesday.
The sides are joined in Group D by defending champions France and Australia, and this clash was seen by many as a chance for either side to prove their credentials as a team worthy of a place in the knockout stages.
But neither could break the deadlock at the Education City Stadium, with Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel pulling off a fine save after Issam Jebali went through one-on-one in the first half.
Up the other end of the pitch, Christian Eriksen was denied by a decent stop and Andreas Cornelius somehow missed a header from a yard out.
Here is how the Denmark players rated in their Group D opener:
Denmark vs Tunisia player ratings: Kasper Schmeichel save proves key in goalless draw
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia: Neither side could break the deadlock in the Group D opener, with the Danish goalkeeper producing a crucial stop in the first half
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
FULL-TIME: Tunisia keeper Dahmen claims the header from the corner easily - and that’s that!
A point each at the Education City Stadium! Tunisia fully worth it too, they held out and fought to the end against a Danish side who were slightly lacklustre this afternoon.
Tunisia will be proud of their performance, as will their travelling support! Now over to France and Australia this evening...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90+6 mins: Stunned silence in the stadium after that VAR check didn’t go the way we all thought it would after the referee went over to the screen! For what it’s worth, a penalty would’ve been harsh I feel...
Denmark do have one final corner here...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90+5 mins: Oh wow!
The referee goes over to the screen - a Denmark corner has hit a Tunisian hand!
But the Mexican referee doesn’t give it! He gives a free-kick to Tunisia - Denmark don’t even have the corner they were entitled to before the VAR check!
Another VAR talking point in this World Cup...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90+4 mins: Dahmen almost makes a mess of a simple cross in the box as he deflects the ball wide....
Oh hang on, checking for a possible penalty here... VAR involved!
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