Analysis: Argentina found itself on the receiving end of a historic shock. Led by the global phenomenon Lionel Messi, they slumped to a bewildering 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. Yes, Saudi Arabia: The country that has repeatedly failed in the World Cup.
. Their first match of the tournament, against unheralded Cameroon, was supposed to be a formality.
Then Cameroon won, against all expectations and logic. My brother and I cried, stunned by our superhero’s fallibility. We were too young to recognize the seismic importance of Cameroon’s triumph. Until then, the soccer teams of African nations were often the target of scorn and mockery, subject to much latent racism.
Instead, cheered on by tens of thousands of Saudi fans who made the short trip across the border, Saudi Arabia pulled off the unthinkable. Already, Wednesday has been declared a public holiday for the nation to extend its celebrations. The victory, , also marked an unusual moment of pan-Arab unity, with social media in the region abounding with joyous memes hailing the Saudi success.
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