12:53
90′ – Eight minutes of added time
The referee decided for eight minutes of added time: Argentina attacking the opponent’s goal.
12:47
84′ – Messi’s header
Free kick from interesting position for Lionel Messiball high over the crossbar.
12:43
80′ – Bad punishment by Messi
Free kick from interesting position for Lionel Messiball high over the crossbar. Bad.
12:41
78′ – Substitution Saudi Arabia
Substitution Saudi Arabia: Saleh Al Shehri out, Sultan Al-Ghannam in.
12:38
75′ – Argentina finds no space
Lautaro Martinez he was fed deep, as he did several times in the first half, but this time the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper came out of the box and cleared the ball.
12:26
63′ – Sensational intervention by Al Owais
Incredible intervention by Al Owais. On a set-piece Tagliafico finds her between his feet and two steps away sends towards the goal, with the Arab goalkeeper forced into a huge diving save.
12:22
59′ – Three substitutions for Argentina
Triple substitution for Argentina. Alvarez, Fernandez and Lisandro Martinez enter for Gomez, Paredes and Romero
12:16
53′ – Saudi Arabia takes the lead
Saudi Arabia scores again and does so with a great goal by Al Dawsari! The attacker controls the ball, carries it to the right, jumps an opponent and kicks crossing.
12:11
48′ – Goal from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia draw! Al Sheri enters the penalty area in a decisive two against two, with an assist from Feras Al-Birakan, kicking diagonally with his left foot and beating Emiliano Martinez.
12:08
45′ – The second half begins
Let’s start once again. Kick-off entrusted to Argentina.
11:51am
51′ – The first half ends
After six minutes of recovery the first half of Argentina-Saudi Arabia ends. South Americans ahead with Messi’s penalty, but Saudi Arabia always in the game and with a good one trim defensive that left no spaces. Seleccion not very precise in the last step: three goals disallowed for offside.
11:48
48′ – Di Maria does not find the goal
Another attempt of Argentinainaccurate in handling. Paredes long throw, Of Mary in the stretch area, he hits the ball but can’t find the goal mirror.
11:34
34′ – Argentina, still offside!
Another goal scored from Argentinaanother offside signaled by the referee. Forwards South Americans not very precise both in the pass and in the departure towards the area: once again Lautaro Martinez had scored offside.
11:27
27′ – Lautaro Martinez scores offside
Argentina doubles, but it’s still offside. Great goal by Lautaro Martinez with a through ball between Paredes’ lines, the Inter forward hooks the ball and beats the goalkeeper with a dig: the players exult, but after a couple of minutes the referee raises his arm and decrees offside.
11:23
23′ – Goal disallowed for Messi
Messi scores againbut this time the goal is not regular. Vertical throw for the number 10 which was a few centimeters beyond the Saudi Arabian defensive line. The PSG striker had then found the goal but the referee stopped everything for offside.
11:21am
21′ – Attempt by Gomez
Papa Gomez tries from a distance. From the left, the former Atalanta striker tried the round shot which ended high.
11:15
15′ – Saudi Arabia tries
Messi’s goal collected Saudi Arabia is trying to fight back: high center of gravity and lucidity, the team tries to keep the Argentines in their own half.
11:10
10′ – Messi gives Argentina the lead
Argentina advantage: very cold Messi from the spot that displaces the goalkeeper and scores the 1-0 goal
11:09
9′ – Penalty for Argentina
Ali Al Bulayh belt in Parede areas: the Var calls the referee to the monitor and concedes a kick rigor.
11:03
3′ – Argentina close to taking the lead with Messi
Immediately great occasion for the formation of Scaloni. Di Maria from the right finds a through ball in the area caught by Messi: low shot and quick but well blocked in diving from To the Owais.
11:01
1′ – Argentina-Saudi Arabia begins
Off to the game, kick off for Saudi Arabia with the green shirt and white shorts. Argentina with the usual albiceleste shirt and dark shorts.
10:55am
Argentina and Saudi Arabia in the field for the anthem
Here we are, they are missing minutes to kick-off for the match. The two teams took to the field for the anthem of their respective national teams.
10:45am
Lethal Messi in the group stage
All six goals by Lionel Messi at the World Cup they were scored in phase a groupsnever finding the net in 756 minutes of play in the knockout phase of the tournament. At the same time, Messi is also the only player who has served a assist in each of the last four World Cup tournaments.
10:30
Argentina and Saudi Arabia on the pitch to warm up
Stadium roar for the entry into the field of the two national teams. It started on heatingkick-off in thirty minutes.
10:20
Argentina, Dybala on the bench. Roma are rooting for him
Paulo Dybala will take a seat on the bench for this first challenge of the World Cup. Roma are rooting for him: in Trigoria they will watch the game and his teammates hope to see him enter the field.
10:17
Argentina-Saudi Arabia, great celebration of fans
Party inside and outside the stadium: the two teams celebrate together before the match.
10:15
Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the stadium
The two teams have reached Lusail stadiumthe new structure that will also host the final of the world championship. Lusail is located about 23 km north of the city center of Doha.
10:05
Argentina undefeated with Saudi Arabia
Argentina is undefeated in all four previous meetings against Arabia saudi (W2, D2), although this will be the first ever meeting between the two teams at the World Cup.
10am
Argentina-Saudi Arabia, the official formations
Argentina (4-2-3-1): Dibu Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Papu Gomez; Messi, Lautaro, Di Maria.
Saudi Arabia (4-3-3): Al-Owais, Abdulhamid, Al Tambakti, Al-Boleahi, Al-Shahrani, Al-Malki, Kanno, Al-Faraj, Al-Shehri, Al-Buraikan, Al-Dawsar
