Our Team of the day award deservedly goes to Saudi Arabia.
Never underestimate the ‘Underdogs’
Football is more than just a beautiful game; It instills important life lessons on building character through losses and wins. Even the most decorated teams in the world lose their crowns at some point and taste the bitterness of defeat.
On Match day 3, it was arguably the greatest footballer of the last decade and his dangerous compatriots turn to be humbled.
An Arabian Dream
What a performance!
Yesterday, the world witnessed a tactical masterclass engineered by Herve Renard. The Frenchman has a knack for the impossible with smaller teams and he has done it yet again!!!!
A perfectly taken 10th minute penalty by six time Ballon d’or winner, Lionel Messi was seemingly the first of 10 goals some predicted Argentina will score in this match. Such inaccurate prophecies can be justified by Saudi Arabia’s history of capitulation on the world stage:
In Korea/Japan 2002, Germany recorded their biggest ever World Cup victory with an 8-0 win over a desperately poor Saudi Arabia outfit. The Green Falcons were also convincingly beaten 5-0 by Russia at the 2018 World Cup but what a difference four years can make….
With Lionel Scaloni’s La Albiceleste side enjoying a 36-match winning streak and still 1nil up by half-time, Saudi needed moments of magic to turn their fortunes around in the second half.
Stunning strikes by Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari sent the Arabian nation into delirium and shockwaves through the streets of Buenos Aires.
The sound of the final whistle was confirmation of one of the biggest upsets in world cup history!
The Blues too hot for Aussies to handle
While Saudi Arabia basked in the euphoria of their dream start, the Eagles of Carthage, the Danish dynamites, the Polish Biało-czerwoni & El Tri of Mexico all failed to find the back of the net in their respective matches.
In the last game of the day, the Aussies were stung by the harsh truth that not all ‘French Kisses’ are pleasant.
Despite losing Ballon d’or winner Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkunku, Presnel Kimpembe, Mike Maignan, N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba to injuries, the World Cup holders looked on course to retain their title after a convincing 4-1 win.
Former Gunner, Olivier Giroud scored a brace to take his tally to 51 goals, matching legendary Thierry Henry’s all time goal scoring record. Australia’s defense had another problem they failed to solve all night in red hot Paris St Germain striker, Kylian Mbappe who was a nuisance all night and also scored to fire the Blues to the top of Group D.