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:
France 2-1 Australia
47 mins: Australia win a corner on their right, but Griezmann heads it away at the near post.
France 2-1 Australia
Half-time: France come from behind to lead at the break!
The defending champions conceded early as Goodwin slammed home a finish at the back post, completing a move that also saw Lucas Hernandez injured for France.
But Les Bleus equalised through a Rabiot header, before going ahead thanks to a close-range Giroud finish at the end of a slick attack.
Irvine then clipped the post with a header for Australia, just before half-time!
France 2-1 Australia
45+2 mins: POST!
All of a sudden Australia go close!
Irvine gets on the end of a cross from the left, and he heads the ball downwards and goalwards...
But it bounces onto the outside of the post and then away!
France 2-1 Australia
45 mins: CLOSE! France should have another!
A wonderful ball is clipped diagonally out to Griezmann from the France defence. He flicks it across goal with the outside of his boot, and Mbappe is surging into the box in an effort to meet it...
He gets there just a few yards from goal, but he sends the ball well over the crossbar!
Six minutes of added time.
France 2-1 Australia
43 mins: Australia are under a lot of pressure now.
Behich wants a foul given against Dembele, who escapes one and skips past the Australian on the right wing.
He passes to Mbappe, who plays yet another back-heel, this one to Griezmann... who drives a low shot narrowly wide of the Australia goal!
France 2-1 Australia
39 mins: France work the ball up the left wing, and Mbappe receives it on the corner of the Australia box.
He cuts inside and squares it through the penalty area, but Dembele is stretching as he tries to direct it goalwards, and the ball goes over the bar and out for a goal kick.
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