Argentina 4-0 Saudi Arabia: What’s your prediction?
Lionel Messi's Argentina have an easy-looking start to the World Cup on Tuesday based on blistering recent form and opponents Saudi Arabia's history of drubbings in tournament openers.
The 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.
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"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. "He's enjoying his team mates, training sessions, the stay and the whole process."
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 coach Herve Renard.
When?
04:00 pm, Bangladesh time
Where?
Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar
Head-to-head
Matches 4
Argentina 2
Saudi Arabia 0
Draw 2
Prediction: Argentina 4-0 Saudi Arabia
Possible lineups
Argentina: (4-3-3) Martinez (GK), Tagliafico, Otamendi, Romero, Molina, Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul, Di Maria, Lautaro, Messi
Saudi Arabia: (4-2-3-1) Al Owais (GK), Al Shahrani, Madu, Al Amri, Al Ghannam, Al Najai, Al Malki, Al Dawsari, Al Faraj, Al Muwallad, Al Shehri
Key stats:
* Argentina are playing in the World Cup finals for the 18th time, while Saudi Arabia are playing for the sixth time and second in a row.
* Argentina won the title twice in 1978 and 1986, and also finished runner-up twice in Italy 1990 and Brazil eight years ago.
* Argentina reached the final 16 in their last appearance in 2018, before losing 4-3 to the eventual champions France.
* Argentina were crowned champions of Copa America last year beating hosts Brazil at the famous Maracana stadium.
* Saudi Arabia lost 5-0 to hosts Russia in the opening game in 2018 then 1-0 to Uruguay before beating Egypt 2-1 in their final game of the group stage.
The following is a stat box on Argentina
FIFA Ranking: 8
Odds: 7/1
PREVIOUS TOURNAMENTS:
Argentina have appeared at 17 different World Cups, winning the tournament twice (1978 and 1986) and finishing runners-up three times. Their last appearance in the final came in 2014 when they lost to Germany in extra time.
Argentina scraped through to the knockouts of the 2018 World Cup after finishing second in the group, but were eliminated 4-3 by champions France in a see-saw last-16 encounter that was considered one of the most entertaining games of the tournament.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED:
Argentina finished second in the CONMEBOL qualifiers behind Brazil despite one of their games against their South American rivals being abandoned when Brazilian health officials stopped the match amid alleged COVID-19 quarantine violations.
Like Brazil, they were unbeaten during the campaign where they scored 27 goals in 17 games while conceding only eight and keeping 10 clean sheets. Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez were Argentina's top scorers with seven goals each.
FORM GUIDE:
Argentina are on a 35-match unbeaten run since they last lost a match to Brazil in 2019, winning their first major trophy in 28 years when they lifted the 2021 Copa America title.
The team has not been tested since their 'Finalissima' win over Italy in June, however, comfortably winning their last three matches against Estonia, Honduras and Jamaica while scoring 11 goals and conceding none.
Skipper Messi has been in blistering form, scoring nine times in his last three games, including all five goals in the 5-0 win over Estonia.
Following is a statbox on Saudi Arabia
FIFA Ranking: 49 (Oct 6)
Odds: 500-1
Previous tournaments:
Saudi Arabia return for a second consecutive appearance at the World Cup and their sixth in total, still looking to match or surpass the achievements on their debut. In the United States in 1994, the Gulf state advanced to the last 16 having defeated Morocco and Belgium, the second win coming thanks to Saeed Al Owairan's slaloming individual goal.
How they qualified
Herve Renard's side topped Group B of the final round of Asia's preliminaries to book their spot at the World Cup, finishing one point clear of Japan. Four wins in their first four games - including a 1-0 victory over the Japanese - set the Saudis on the way to Qatar despite a dip in form in the latter stages of qualifying.
Form guide
The Saudis have won just one of their most recent friendly games, losing 1-0 against Colombia and Venezuela before sharing 0-0 draws with Ecuador and the U.S. in September. They defeated North Macedonia 1-0 in late October before drawing with Albania and Honduras.
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