Introduction
Reprezentacja Argentyny – Reprezentacja Arabii Saudyjskiej w Piłce Nożnej Mężczyzn – Statystyki: I don’t think anyone expected this! The Argentine national team sensationally lost to Saudi Arabia 1-2 (1-0) in the first match of Group C. The title contenders were leading after a goal by Lionel Messi. Still, five minutes at the beginning of the second half, the Albicelestes were shocked and unable to recover.
World Cup 2022. Argentina – Saudi Arabia Men’s National Football Team
The Saudi Arabian team is a three-time winner of the Asian Cup, so in terms of the number of triumphs, it is second only to the Japanese. She also took second place the same number of times after defeats in the finals, but since 2007, she has had to do without any significant successes in the international arena. The most outstanding achievement at the world championship was getting out of the group in 1994. Their nickname is the Green Falcons.
Saudi Arabia National Team – Basic Information
Team: Saudi Arabia national team
Website: www.saff.com.sa
Coach: Hervé Renard
Captain: Salman Al-Faraj
The biggest star: Salem Al-Dawsari
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City
Year of foundation: 1956
Colors: white and green
Number of appearances in the Asian Cup: 12
The most significant success in the Asian Cup: championship x3 (1984, 1988, 1996)
Number of appearances at the World Championships: 6
The most tremendous success at the World Championships: Round of 16 (1994)
History of World Cup 2022. Argentina – Saudi Arabia Men’s National Football Team
The Football Association in Saudi Arabia was founded in 1956, and then the country joined FIFA. Only in 1974 did it become a member of the AFC, the Asian Football Association. Between 1984 and 2007, Arabia played in six of the seven Asian Cup finals held during that time. Later, in the next two games, she did not even make it out of the group, and in 2019, she was eliminated in the 1/8 finals. Over the last decade, Saudi Arabia’s position has significantly declined, but after qualifying for the second consecutive World Cup, it can be concluded that their national team can slowly rebuild.
So far, the Saudis have appeared in five World Cups, but only one managed to get out of the group. Interestingly, it was during their first World Championships in the USA in 1994. Later, this achievement was never repeated. Their next test will be in Qatar, where they will face Argentina, Poland and Mexico. Many fans perceive them as outsiders, but Arabia does not have to finish last in the group.
The Golden Years of the Saudis World Cup 2022. Argentina
Reprezentacja Argentyny – Reprezentacja Arabii Saudyjskiej w Piłce Nożnej Mężczyzn – Statystyki: Arabia’s best period is already behind it, and it was in the 1980s. and ’90. It was then that the Green Falcons made their debut in the Asian Cup and the World Championships. In 1984, they played in the continental championship for the first time and immediately won it. In the final, they defeated China 2-0, and a new force in Asian football was born. Four years later, Saudi Arabia defended the trophy, defeating South Korea in the final match, although only after a penalty shootout. In the next tournament in 1992, the Saudis also reached the final but lost 0-1 to Japan. The last time they managed to win the Asian Cup was in 1996, wherein, in the final, they were better than the United Arab Emirates, but again, the series of elevens was decided.
Later, in 2000 and 2007, Saudi reached the finals but lost to Japan and Iraq. Since then, she hasn’t even come close to those stages of the tournament. As for the World Cup, the best one happened in the debut in 1994. The Saudis faced Morocco, Belgium, and the Netherlands on American fields. Although they lost 1-2 to the Dutch at the beginning, subsequent victories 2-1 over Morocco and 1-0 against Belgium allowed them to take 2nd place in the group. In the 1/8 finals, they played against Sweden, but this opponent was beyond their reach because they lost 1:3 and ended their adventure at the World Championships.
Coach of the World Cup 2022. Argentina – Saudi Arabia National Team
In 2019, the Arabian team was taken over by Frenchman Herve Renard. He did not make a great career as a footballer, but as a coach, he became recognizable on the African continent. He won the African Cup of Nations twice, with two different teams. In 2012, he did it while managing Zambia. Later, he also led the Moroccan national team, with which he advanced to the World Cup in Russia. Now, he repeated this success with the Saudi Arabian national team.
Saudi Arabia National Team Squad World Cup 2022. Argentina
The Saudi Arabia national team players are not big stars with famous names. At least not in European football, where they are of relatively marginal importance. However, Herve Renard’s squad’s strength is determined by the Al-Hilal club players, which won the Asian Champions League in 2019 and 2021. Although there are not many outstanding individuals here, all the players play every day in top clubs in their country. Thanks to this, they can be unrivaled in their level of chemistry. It is worth paying attention to players such as Salem Al-Dawsari and Saleh Al-Shehri. Together, they scored half of the team’s goals in the second phase of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Saudi Arabia’s Path to the World Cup in Qatar
The Saudi Arabian team had to go through two qualifying rounds to be among the best teams in the world. First, winning the group with Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine, and Singapore was necessary. The Green Falcons did not lose any eight matches, winning six. This allowed them to take 1st place and quickly advance to the next round. Then, two 6-team groups were drawn, of which five teams qualified for the World Championship—the two best from each group and the one who wins the play-off match.
Saudi Arabia unexpectedly won its group again, leaving Japan and Australia behind. It was against this first team that the Saudis lost their only match. Seven wins and two draws allowed them to secure a ticket to the World Cup quickly. In November, they will face, among others, Poland, and although many fans strongly deprecate this team, it cannot be underestimated under any circumstances.
World Cup 2022: Despair in Argentina We Lost Because of Our Own Mistakes
From the beginning of the match, the Argentines took the initiative. Lautaro Martinez fell in the Saudi penalty area in the seventh minute, but the referee allowed play to continue. After a while, Slavko Vincic ran to the monitor and pointed to the lime after watching the replay. Lionel Messi converted the penalty kick with a sure shot.
The star of the Albicelestes national team also put the ball into the net in the 23rd minute, but the linesman found it offside. Interestingly, Lionel Scaloni’s players surprised the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper twice more, but in both cases, they were on the offside.
Argentina – Saudi Arabia 1-2 (1-0)
Goal: Messi 10 (k) – Al Shehri 48, Al Dawsari 53
Argentyna: Emiliano Martinez – Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero (59. Lisandro Martinez), Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico (71. Marcos Acuna) – Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi, Leandro Paredes (59. Enzo Fernandez), Alejandro Gomez (59. Julian Alvarez) – Lautaro Martinez
Arabia Saudijska: Mohamed Al-Owais – Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Boleahi, Yasser Al-Shahrani (90+9. Mohammed Al-Breik) – Saleh Al-Shehri (78. Sultan Al-Ghannam), Mohamed Kanno, Salman Al-Faraj (45+4. Nawaf Al-Abed, 88. Abdulelah Al-Amri), Abdulelah Al-Malki, Salem Al-Dawsari – Firas Al-Buraikan (88. Haitham Asiri)
Download card: Al-Malki, Al-Boleahi, Al-Dawsari, Abdulhamid, Al-Abed, Al-Owais
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia). Viewers: 80,012.
World Cup 2022. Argentina – Saudi Arabia 1:2. See What Grades We Gave the Players!
The first meeting of Group C at the World Championships in Qatar is behind us. And immediately, there was a huge sensation – Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia 1:2. See what grades we gave to Lionel Scaloni and Herve Renard for this match. Who stood out the most, and who disappointed?
Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Al Owais – 7
He was forced to intervene in the 2nd minute. There wasn’t much he could do with Lionel Messi’s penalty kick. Other than that, there’s not much you can fault him for. When necessary, he rose to the occasion. In stoppage time, he stopped Julian Alvarez’s header in spectacular style.
Saud Abdulhamid – 7
He was unafraid of clashes with Angel Di Maria, from which he usually emerged victorious. Defensively, he looked more than solid. He was disciplined when it comes to positioning on the pitch.
Hassan Tambakti – 8
A sure point for your team. He did well with Lautaro Martinez and Messi. He was able to dominate physically in duels.
Ali Al-Boleahi – 8
He formed an excellent center-back duo with Abdulhamid. Especially after the change of sides, it was practically impossible to pass. Time and time again, he stood in the way of Messi and co.
Yasir Al Shahrani – 6
Reliable. He secured the rear and made some exciting moves in the offensive. He limited himself to simple yet effective solutions.
Saleh Al-Shehri – 7
There wasn’t much good to say about his game by the time. In the 48th minute, he won a running duel with Cristian Romero and beat Emiliano Martinez with a flat shot.
Mohamed Kanno – 7
He conceded a penalty kick in the 9th minute, but it only got better after that. He looked perfect against his opponent’s background – Leandro Paredes—a large number of essential tackles at critical moments of the match.
Abdulelah Al Malki – 8
One of the critical elements of the Asian team. At times, he played like a professor. Most of the offensive actions of Herve Renard’s team went through him. Extremely hardworking.
Salem Al-Dawsari – 8
He was a go-getter, and he proved it most in the 53rd minute when he put the ball into the net with a brilliant technical shot from the fifteenth meter. He gave the team an impetus.
Salman Al-Faraj – 5
Hardly visible. However, this was mainly due to the defensive nature of the Saudis in the first part of the match. Due to an injury, he had to leave the field in the 45th minute.
Firas Al-Buraikan – 6
He was the least visible of the offensive players in Herve Renard’s team, although he did assist Al-Shehri’s goal. It wasted a good opportunity early in the second half of the game. He was substituted in the 89th minute.
Conclusion
Reprezentacja Argentyny – Reprezentacja Arabii Saudyjskiej w Piłce Nożnej Mężczyzn – Statystyki: Saudi Arabia was losing 0-1 until halftime in the group match of the World Cup in Qatar against Argentina and practically did not exist on the pitch, eight minutes after the whistle to start the second half shocked the world. The first match in Group C of the 2022 World Cup is underway. Argentina and Saudi Arabia are playing on the Qatar stadium’s pitch. Until the break, it seemed that it was only a matter of minutes for the Albicelestes to increase their lead. However, after the whistle that started the second half, things happened that absolutely no one expected. Saudi Arabia equalized the score in the 48th minute.
Also Read: Mistrzostwa świata w piłce nożnej 2022/Grupa c – Harmonogram