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IMAGE: A Saudi Arabia fan celebrates their group’s 2-1 victory within the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium. {Photograph}: Catherine Ivill/Getty Photographs
Within the late morning, clusters of Saudi and Argentinian followers chanted on metro trains headed north to the 80,000-capacity and largest stadium at Lusail.
Whereas all of them anticipated to help their respective groups, nobody the world over would have anticipated the top results of the FIFA World Cup Group C encounter.
Argentina coming off a 35-match profitable streak misplaced to the Inexperienced Falcons, who have been competing of their sixth World Cup however had by no means beforehand received a gap sport.
The 35-year-old Messi scored a Tenth-minute penalty in a dominant first-half show the place he and Lautaro Martinez additionally had three targets disallowed for offside.
Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked group within the event after Ghana, threw warning to the wind firstly of the second half, charging at Argentina’s defence in entrance of a frenzied 88,012 crowd.
“Wow. I’ve all the sentiments proper now. We beat Argentina, one of many nice groups! Our guys performed so nicely, the whole lot went proper contained in the stadium at the moment. It was superb,” mentioned Saad, a Saudi who’s right here from Riyadh for 2 weeks and wore a inexperienced Saudi Falcons scarf round his neck.
“Our group fulfils our goals!” and “The place is Messi? We beat him!”, the green-clad Saudis chanted again and again within the Lusail Stadium, on their toes and greeting each clearance, together with one headed off the aim line with a deafening roar.
Argentina’s final defeat was by Brazil within the semi-finals of the Copa America in July 2019. They’re ranked third, 48 locations above Saudi Arabia, by world soccer’s governing physique FIFA.
Argentina’s final defeat of their opening match at a World Cup was towards Cameroon in 1990. In doubtlessly an excellent omen for Messi and his teammates, they nonetheless made it to the ultimate then.
Your complete sport was performed in a rare environment on the Lusail Stadium, with Argentina’s historically large and raucous following matched by the 1000’s of Saudis who had come over the border to cheer on their group.
The Saudis may hardly include themselves after their giant-killing act, falling to the ground in prayers and tears earlier than working to have fun with their followers because the Argentinians trudged off downcast, their supporters shaking heads in silence.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who attended the sport, raised a Saudi flag. Right here is how delirious Saudi followers celebrated..(Images….)
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