In every World Cup, there comes a moment when football defies expectation and shakes the foundations of the sport. From Maracanã in 1950 to Gijón in 1982 and Milan in 1990, certain games transcend the ordinary. On a sun-drenched afternoon at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the world witnessed another such seismic shock — as Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world, dethroned the mighty Argentina in a 2–1 victory that sent tremors across continents and generations.
It was a
game that began with prophecy and ended in disbelief. The script was supposed
to be simple: Lionel Messi, playing in his fifth and likely final World Cup,
leading a red-hot Argentina team unbeaten in 36 matches, destined for a
glorious run. But football, beautiful and brutal, rewrote that story.
The Calm Before the Storm
For the
first 45 minutes, all seemed normal. Argentina controlled the tempo, dominated
possession, and imposed themselves on the game. Messi’s penalty — coolly
slotted past Mohammed Al Owais in the 10th minute — gave La Albiceleste the
early lead. The goals that followed, though disallowed by VAR for offside, gave
a sense of inevitability to proceedings. It seemed only a matter of time before
Argentina’s dominance would be reflected on the scoreboard.
But Saudi
Arabia, managed by the enigmatic Hervé Renard, were not simply holding on. They
were waiting. Absorbing. Calculating.
Their high
defensive line — a tactic often viewed as suicidal against elite opposition —
was a deliberate gamble, one taken with full awareness of its risks.
Argentina’s attacking threats were repeatedly caught marginally offside,
particularly Lautaro Martínez, whose movement constantly probed the line
between brilliance and illegality. Di María and Messi were nudged wide, their
danger zones reduced, their synergy disrupted.
From Survival to Supremacy: The Second-Half
Revolution
Few could
have predicted what came next. Within eight electrifying minutes after the
restart, Saudi Arabia not only equalized — they took the lead and reshaped the
World Cup narrative.
Saleh
Al-Shehri’s equalizer in the 48th minute was a textbook example of clinical
execution. Played in behind by Feras Al-Brikan, he shrugged off a passive
Cristian Romero and finished low across the face of Emiliano Martínez’s goal.
It was a warning — and a wake-up call Argentina failed to heed.
Then came
the masterpiece - Salem Al-Dawsari, a name scarcely known outside the Middle
East, etched himself into football history. Picking up a loose ball near the
edge of the box, he weaved past two defenders, faked out a third, and launched
a curling strike into the far corner. It was a goal of beauty and audacity — a
strike that would make even Messi applaud — and it lit the Lusail Stadium on
fire.
The Saudi
bench erupted. The captain, Yasser Al-Shahrani, injured and on crutches, was
hopping with joy. It wasn’t just a goal — it was a national awakening.
Hervé Renard’s Tactical Alchemy
Much credit
must go to Hervé Renard, a manager whose track record with underdogs speaks
volumes. From Zambia’s fairy-tale AFCON win in 2012 to Ivory Coast’s
continental triumph in 2015, Renard has made a career out of taking the unlikely
and making it unforgettable.
In Qatar,
he orchestrated a blueprint few would dare to draw. He employed a bold 4-1-4-1
shape with a high line, compressing the space in midfield and daring Argentina
to beat it. And when the ball moved wide, his players activated coordinated
pressing traps to force turnovers near the flanks — an area where Argentina are
typically lethal with overlaps and cutbacks.
His
half-time team talk was reportedly so rousing that players described it as
“madness.” Midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki said Renard’s fiery speech made them
want to “eat the grass.” What followed was a physical and psychological
transformation — a team possessed, feeding off belief and urgency.
Messi Muzzled, Argentina Unravelled
Argentina,
stunned, failed to respond with clarity. Their attempts grew frantic, their
shape disjointed. Messi was forced to drop deeper in search of influence, but
Saudi Arabia’s compactness and work rate shut down space in central areas.
Without width or incision, Argentina’s famed attacking fluidity turned into
sideways passing and hopeful crosses.
Julián
Álvarez came on and added energy. Enzo Fernández probed from midfield. Yet
every Argentine effort was thwarted — by blocks, by heroic goalkeeping from Al-Owais,
and by sheer defiance.
Al-Tambakti,
the Saudi centre-back, was colossal — timing his interventions perfectly and
launching himself into last-ditch tackles with no hesitation. Each clearance,
each interception was met with deafening cheers from a Saudi contingent that
felt every second of this historic battle.
The End of a Streak, and the Start of Something
New
The result
ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run, halting their charge toward Italy’s
world record of 37. More importantly, it shattered the illusion of
invincibility that had followed Scaloni’s side into the tournament. The weight
now rests heavier on Messi’s shoulders, with the pressure of delivering his
first World Cup intensified by this early stumble.
Yet,
Scaloni remained dignified in defeat. “It’s hard to digest,” he said
post-match, “but we must bounce back. This group will not fall. We’ve been in
difficult situations before.”
A Moment That Will Echo Forever
Hervé
Renard later reflected, “All the stars were aligned for us today.” And perhaps
they were. But stars alone don’t win football matches. Structure, spirit,
sacrifice — those are what brought Saudi Arabia to the summit on this day.
This wasn’t
just an upset; it was a declaration. A nation so often dismissed on the global
footballing stage proved that with courage and belief, anything is possible.
For the
fans, for the players, and for every underdog who dreams — this was not just a
win. It was a revolution.
Aftermath: Where They Go From Here
Saudi
Arabia topped Group C after the opening matchday and suddenly found themselves
within touching distance of reaching the knockout stage for the first time
since 1994. For Argentina, the route is now treacherous — with matches against
Mexico and Poland becoming must-win affairs.
But no
matter what happens next, the memory of November 22, 2022, will live on. It was
the day the desert roared, the day legends stumbled, and a new footballing
chapter was written — with green ink.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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