Messi calls for unity after Saudi Arabia clash — RT Sport News

Lionel Messi says his side have no one to blame but themselves after his Argentina side were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their FIFA World Cup opener in Qatar, breaking a streak of 36 games unbeaten in the process.

Messi’s fifth – and probably last – World Cup got off to the most ignominious start imaginable after his first-half penalty was canceled out by two Saudi strikes within five minutes early in the second half, in what is considered one of the biggest upheavals in the world. History of the Cup.

But speaking after the disheartening defeat, Messi said he was well aware of what Saudi Arabia, a side 48 places below them in the world rankings, were capable of.

“We knew they were a team that would play if we let them… They didn’t surprise us, we knew they could do thatthe Argentine icon said via Todo Noticias.

“It’s a situation that this group of players has never experienced, it’s been a long time since we suffered such a blow, we didn’t expect to start like this,” he added.

Argentina entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win what would be their first World Cup since the Diego Maradona-led triumph in 1986, but the 2021 Copa America winners now face a challenge just to out of what has become a very competitive group. VS

And Messi attributes the defeat to those crucial few minutes of the second half in which Argentina let their guard down.

“In five minutes of mistakes we made we led 2-1 and then it was really tough and we lost the organization and started kicking the ball,” he explained.

“Obviously we have to win or win now. It’s up to us to fix what we’ve done wrong and get back to the core of who we are.

“We are fine, visibly hurt by the result, very bitter. But people have to trust that this team won’t let them down and we’re going to go for it in the next two games. We’ve played games of this nature before and we’re going to perform well.

“It’s time to be more united than ever, to show how strong we really are.”

Messi and Argentina will have the chance to correct their mistakes in their next Group C game against Mexico on Saturday – but with little room for error remaining, it’s now a do-or-die situation for the one of football’s most accomplished players in his World Cup swan song