Argentina: Messi’s team arrived at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as one of the favorites to win the coveted trophy. They were in a rich vein of shape. They were the defending champions of the Copa América. La Albiceleste were unbeaten in their last 36 games in all competitions.
Located in Group C along with Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia, Argentina is expected to advance to the next stage of the competition. However, they did not get off to the start they had hoped for.
Argentina faced Saudi Arabia in their opening of the 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. In an impressive first half, Argentina led the game by one goal, courtesy of a Lionel Messi penalty kick.
However, Saudi Arabia turned the tide in the second half and stunned Lionel Messi and co. Two quick goals, scored in the 48th and 53rd minute of the match, gave Saudi Arabia the lead and left their opponents a goal behind.
Argentina under enormous pressure as they take on Mexico
That was unexpected. Argentina was expected to quickly overtake Saudi Arabia and get their campaign off to a winning start. But it was not like that. With 53 minutes into the game, La Albiceleste was down by one goal.
Argentina looked for a tie, but it never came. Saudi Arabia held on against the South American heavyweights. Argentina kept looking for that second goal, but Saudi Arabia defended with determination to keep the score intact. Lionel Messi seemed largely anonymous; the Argentine stopped bending the game at will.
However, it is not a matter of excessively defending the Copa América champions. They could still advance to the round of 16 from Group C. But it just wasn’t the start Argentina had hoped for.
With each team in Group C having played a match, this is what the points table looks like. Saudi Arabia tops the group with three points, Poland and Mexico in second and third place with one point each. Argentina is fourth, without any points.
Argentina take on Mexico in their second match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage. It is a match in which Lionel Scaloni’s men are expected to win again. They occupy third place in the men’s FIFA ranking, while Mexico is 10 places behind, in 13th place.
However, Argentina will enter the match against Mexico under immense pressure. Another loss will put them out of contention. A draw could leave their chances of progression hanging by a thread.
Argentina will be looking for nothing less than a win when they and Mexico meet in their next match at Qatar 2022.
