To progress, Lionel Messi and Argentina must overcome the group’s solely unbeaten group, Poland, who can high the pool by upsetting the Albiceleste. Of their shadows, Saudi Arabia can be hoping to script historical past by beating Mexico, who’ll want a divine intervention to remain alive within the match.
It will have taken a courageous individual to foretell that in a gaggle comprising South and North American giants, together with a European middleweight, the Saudis could be essentially the most entertaining and adventurous facet.
Herve Renard’s males have proven an incredible urge for food for threat: enthralling the spectators with their ridiculously excessive defence line, teasing and baiting their opponents to get previous it, snatching possession after which hitting them on the counter.
Had Argentina obtained their runs proper, the state of affairs would have been very totally different now. Nevertheless, regardless of disallowed objectives and the fixed risk of Messi working by way of, repeatedly, Saudi caught to their plan and for that, they need to be credited.
Renard had educated his defence effectively and the road forward of them utilized steady stress on the Argentines, smothering them on a muggy Doha afternoon. Not many groups would have dared to take action in opposition to the title contenders, and on another day, it may’ve gone in opposition to them, because it did in opposition to Poland the place Saudi loved extra possession, created higher possibilities and had extra photographs at purpose however nonetheless ended up on the shedding facet.
But, their excessive press coupled with direct assaults made them a pleasure to observe. In hindsight, it shouldn’t be a shock that they’ve been so courageous. All through their qualifying marketing campaign, Saudi performed the identical method. Maybe, their tremendous run within the qualifiers obtained misplaced within the poor build-up to the World Cup.
Now, what stays to be seen is whether or not they can reproduce their magic one final time within the group stage once they want it essentially the most. Will they’ve sufficient fuel left within the tank after leaving all of it on the sphere within the opening two matches? (READ MORE)