Argentina vs Saudi Arabia LIVE: World Cup 2022 result and reaction as Saudi Arabia claim stunning shock win
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Lionel Messi scored early on but a stunning comeback ensured an all-time great World Cup shock
Saudi Arabia beat Argentina to record one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with a 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s side thanks to a scintillating second-half comeback.
On his fifth and final quest for the only major trophy to elude him, the 35-year-old Messi scored a 10th-minute penalty in a dominant first-half display where he and Lautaro Martinez also had three goals disallowed for offside.
But Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament after Ghana, threw caution to the wind at the start of the second half, charging at Argentina’s defence in front of a frenzied 88,012 crowd.
Saleh Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot in the 48th minute while Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina and Messi looking utterly shell-shocked in the Group C opener. Despite plenty of possession after that, Argentina were unable to best Saudi Arabia, who were competing in their sixth World Cup but had never previously won an opening game.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
France 4-1 Australia
88 mins: Another couple of French substitutions, as Pavard and Giroud come off for Jules Kounde and Marcus Thuram.
France 4-1 Australia
85 mins: Two more substitutions from Australia: Irvine and Atkinson are replaced by Milos Degenek and Keanu Baccus.
France 4-1 Australia
83 mins: A rare poor touch from Mbappe, as he fails to control a delicious chipped pass from Griezmann on the angle.
France 4-1 Australia
79 mins: Upamecano wins a couple of challenges in a row then glides out from the back. Irvine knicks him from behind, though, and the France centre back hits the deck while winning a free kick.
France 4-1 Australia
76 mins: Two changes for France, as Tchouameni is replaced by Wesley Fofana, and Dembele is replaced by Kingsley Coman.
France 4-1 Australia
74 mins: McGree and Australia goalscorer Goodwin are replaced by Awer Mabil and Garang Kuol.
France 4-1 Australia
73 mins: Mbappe turns provider here, dashing to the byline then clipping a cross in for Giroud from the left.
Giroud rises and nods it home, taking a bit of a clatter as he does so!
He seems okay, and happy to have tied Henry’s record of course!
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