Match #8 - Argentina v. Saudi Arabia

Do not overreact mate, this is for sure a huge disappointment for Argentina, but there are 2 matches left to go, nothing is over!

Look at Spain in 2010, favourites, lost their first match and still went through to win it all

First match in my opinion doesn’t mean so much, its very important because if you start off with a win you build much confidence, but it is absolutely not a curse if you lose or a promise of great tourmament if you win.

 

Don't see why many are as confident that Argentina will advance after this match?
They didn't create that many opportunities today...
We will see how Poland And Mexico perform in few hours.

 

And goals that have been disallowed!!

 

What did people expect though?? Messi couldnt win WC his last 4 tries, and now suddenly he's favourite to win it all at age 35??

Same thing with Di Maria, he is 34 and starting to show his age.

Numbers not working in their favour here

 

Spain lost their first game too and still won the WC, also they won almost all their games by 1

 

so dramatic

 

And there are teams also that Lost their first match and didn't reach round 16.
Don't see your point?
What makes you so confident that Argentina will beat Mexico and Poland? You think they don't know to play football?

 

Where's Martin Palermo when you need him?

 

To be fair he’s not saying Argentina will indeed beat Mexico and Poland, he just tries to show that losing your first match doesn’t mean much about what’s coming after. And he is totally right.

 

And i don't Say that Argentina won't get past groupstage i am just saying that After this match there is nothing to be that confident as Mexico and Poland are both very organized squads.

 

Thé most worrying for Argentina today isn't that They lost this opening game but that They struggled physically and didn't create much opportunities.

 

We have to agree on this xD
Exciting group now that most predictions have been shattered!

I still expect Argentina to go through but it could really be any of those 4 advancing, I freaking love World Cup.

 

If Argentina progress they now very unlikely to win group.

So France - Argentina would be more likely 1/8 final. (And England likely for 1/4 final)

 

In the CONMEBOL forums a few months ago, I wrote about how absolutely unpredictable this game is - that's pretty much the one consistently predictable aspect about soccer.

Anything can happen in 90 minutes and this result is perfect proof.

This match was way too early for me, but the headline on a Brazilian sports portal made it clear: the first upset of this tournament.

I will be watching Mexico vs. Poland for sure.

 

I dunno if it was Argentina playing bad or the Saudis just wanting it more. They challenged for every ball, defended like madmen, scored two brilliant goals. I give this Saudi performance 8 out of 10 kebabs

 

Congrats dear Saudi friends.
Y'all deserve this.
This is why we all love this game.
Tough luck for Messi and his company.

 

I was surprised how little initiative Argentina took and when they went 2-1 down they seemed to panic; playing like there was hardly any time left while in fact they had eons. Despite all the holes in Saudi Arabia's defence in the first half Argentina still killed all their own attacks by failing to stay onside. These are pros, shouldn't be unnerved this easily.

 

I'd like to invent a time machine and travel to the future. I'd buy some books about FIFA World Cups with results and go back to my era. I'd win some bets and become billionaires.

 

I have feeling Tunisia beats or draws Denmark.

 

That's the moment ladies and gentlemen!!!#FIFAWorldCup #Argentina #ArgentinaVsSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/P7CYPNyerA

— Ovais Mangalwala (@ovaismangalwala) November 22, 2022

 

Instead of playing extremely weak teams in preparation, maybe squeeze in 1 friendly with a decently ranked team before the WC. Not saying it would have changed things today, but it certainly didn't help. Maintaining a unbeaten run for confidence should come second to testing yourself.