FIFA WORLD CUP 2022: 

Sensational Saudis leave Messi and Argentina with a familiar sinking feeling,

Saudi Arabia was in dreamland; 1-0 down at half-time against mighty Argentina led by the mesmeric Lionel Messi, they were 2-1 up after eight crazy, frenzied second-half minutes of their opening match of the World Cup, 2022 in Qatar on Tuesday.

The goal that gave them the lead, which proved decisive in the end, was worthy of winning any game.

When a high ball came to him, Salem Al-Daswari, facing the goal from the left, seemed to have no chance. He then did a roulette, that took him further away, leaving the plan to his right.

But in an instant, Al-Daswari turned, taking two Argentine defenders out of the equation. A shot with his right foot beckoned but there were still some Argentine bodies in the way. Al-Daswari took a touch that took him away from Rodrigo-De-Paul and then unleashed a rocket past the despairing, diving Leandro Paredes that touched the fingertips of Emilio Martinez before nestling into the far corner.

But in an instant, Al-Daswari turned, taking two Argentine defenders out of the equation. A shot with his right foot beckoned but there were still some Argentine bodies in the way. Al-Daswari took a touch that took him away from Rodrigo De Paul and then unleashed a rocket past the despairing, diving Leandro Paredes that touched the fingertips of Emilio Martinez before nestling into the far corner.

Al-Daswari reeled away in celebration; joy and disbelief in equal measure. The large contingent of Saudi fans, having crossed the border into Qatar — and making the majority of the 88,000-strong crowd at the Lusail Stadium, was roaring.

Argentina looked devastated. This was something they had in all probability never thought of; this was not the way the game was supposed to pan out for them.

After all, Argentina had come to the World Cup on the back of a 36-match unbeaten streak. Messi’s fifth World Cup was supposed to be his crowning moment. Instead, it seems the ghosts of Russia continue to haunt them.

Then, they had opened with a 1-1 draw against Iceland, where Messi missed a penalty, before being drubbed 3-0 by Croatia. A win against Nigeria took them through to the knockouts where they were knocked out by eventual champions France.

It was the first time Argentina had lost a World Cup game to an Asian team. Herve Renard’s Saudis also became the first non-European team to win against the Albiceleste since Cameroon in 1990. Such was their achievement that it left Renard at a loss for words.

“Congratulations to these fantastic players,” said Frenchman Renard, apparently still trying to digest the result that will obviously go down as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.