Lionel Messi's Argentina have an easy-looking start to the World Cup on Tuesday based on blistering recent form and Group C opponents Saudi Arabia's history of drubbings in tournament openers.
Lionel Messi during Argentina's training session at the Qatar University training facilities in Doha on November 21 2022.Lionel Messi's Argentina have an easy-looking start to the World Cup on Tuesday based on blistering recent form andThe South Americans are on a 36-match unbeaten run with top scorer and captain Messi playing his fifth and last World Cup in search of the elusive honour that would grant him immortality at home alongside Diego Maradona.
“I see him as always: eager to enjoy the World Cup,” said head coach Lionel Scaloni, trying to ease some of the pressure on his main man ahead of the game at Lusail Stadium .Saudi Arabia are ranked 48 places lower than Argentina, lost to Venezuela, Colombia and Croatia in a mixed bag of friendlies, and have a dismal record at opening games including losing 5-0 to Russia in 2018 and 8-0 to Germany in 2002.
Yet they have pedigree too: this is their sixth World Cup, they reached the last-16 in 1994, and they made it to Qatar by topping their group ahead of Japan. “I saw a country full of young, talented players. We achieved our first target, let's work together for the rest,” said their French coach, Herv
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
OPINIONISTA: The World Cup, globalisation and the world economyThe 22nd Fifa World Cup is under way, but who at the beginning of this century would have thought it might be hosted by tiny Qatar? Yet here we are, and the only surprise is that it doesn’t feel all that surprising.
Read more »
Ex-France Coach: Salah On The Same Level as Messi & Mbappe | Soccerladuma'I would certainly like to see him play for Paris Saint-Germain' Former France coach Raymond Domenech says that Mohamed Salah is on the level that only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe reached. SLInt MORE:
Read more »
Bale helps Wales start World Cup with a point | KickoffGareth Bale was on target for Wales, who drew 1-1 with United States of America in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener on Monday evening. Read more ➡️
Read more »
Ecuador hand Qatar losing start in World Cup opener | KickoffEcuador opened their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Qatar, who become the first host nation to lose their opening game. Read more ➡️
Read more »
Big Match Predictor: Will Messi Shine For Argentina? Can Mbappe Dazzle For France? | SoccerladumaWill Lionel Messi be the difference for Argentina? Can Kylian Mbappe star for France? 🧐 Predict the scores with our Big Match Predictor to stand a chance of winning incredible prizes! SLPredictorHWB 😍 MORE:
Read more »