Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Live Updates :

Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1 in a shock upset as Lionel Messi’s Argentina start their World Cup campaign on a horrible note

Lionel Messi will open his campaign in possibly his final FIFA World Cup appearance against Saudi Arabia in a Group C clash at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday

Argentina will obviously be considered the favorite going into this Group C clash against Saudi Arabia, but the last time these two teams met the match ended in a goalless draw despite having the likes of Lionel Messi in their lineup

Argentina won the FIFA World Cup trophy in 1978 and 1986 and Lionel Messi would want to lift a World Cup trophy with Argentina as that would be a perfect gift to his illustrious career, in what would possibly be his final FIFA World Cup appearance.

Argentina is currently on a 36-match unbeaten streak, which has included their triumphant Copa American campaign. They have kept numerous clean sheets and their defense looks formidable as ever.

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Predicted XI

Argentina: Martinez (GK); Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, Paredes, Papu Gómez; Messi, Lautaro Martínez

Saudi Arabia: Al-Owais (GK); Al-Burayk, Al-Amri, Al-Bulahyi, Al-Shahrani; Kanno, Al-Malki; Al-Shehri, Al-Faraj, Al-Daswari; Al-Buraikan

Lionel Messi clears injury concerns

“I have no issues whatsoever. I heard there were rumors about having to miss part of the training or training a part of the training, no, it’s just precautions. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary,” Messi was quoted as saying on the Goal website.

“I have not done anything differently, I just took care of myself. I have worked as I have done throughout my entire career. This is a special moment, most likely my last World Cup. My last opportunity to make my dream, our dream a reality,” Messi said during the pre-match press conference.

Messi is also the most capped player among active footballers in the FIFA World Cup 2022 with 19 WC games so far, he has a chance to break Lothar Matthaus’s record of 25 games in the FIFA World Cup

MATCH FACTS

• Argentina is unbeaten in all four of their previous meetings with Saudi Arabia (W2 D2), with this the first meeting between the sides at the FIFA World Cup.
• This will be Saudi Arabia’s sixth FIFA World Cup tournament. These appearances have taken place in the last eight editions of the competition, only failing to qualify in 2010 and 2014.

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