Sports
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia: World Cup 2022 prediction, kick off time today, and where to watch
This morning, Argentina faces Saudi Arabia in their latest World Cup match with a sense of something unique and more spectacular about this team.
La Albiceleste appears to be in good form for a strong showing in Qatar after ending their long wait for a Copa America championship last year. The opening game in Group C of the World Cup will see Argentina face off against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium.
With the caveat that the introduction of the UEFA Nations League has prevented matches with major European teams, Lionel Scaloni has crafted a team that is currently enjoying a 36-match unbeaten streak, though perhaps not quite as star-studded a squad as one of football’s powerhouses have previously boasted.
In 1978 and 1986, the Albiceleste won the coveted cup, and Lionel Messi will try to replicate the feat in what will undoubtedly be his final dance on the international arena. Argentina won the Copa America in 2021, and they haven’t lost in 36 games since then. They have won their last five games, posting 16 goals and recording five clean sheets.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, will be trying to at least replicate their World Cup performance from 1994, when they barely made it out of the group stage before losing in the round of 16. They have only won two of their last ten games in all competitions, and they will be put to the test by Lionel Scaloni’s team.
The current Copa America champions are more motivated than ever to win the competition and claim their third championship in history because Messi is reportedly playing in his final World Cup.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Best Goals Of Lionel Messi
On the other hand, the Saudi Arabian team is competing in their sixth World Cup. Herve Renard, who served as Morocco’s manager during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is the only manager to have guided two different teams to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia date & kick-off time
| Game: | Argentina vs Saudi Arabia |
| Date: | November 22, 2022 |
| Kick-off: | 5 am ET / 10 am GMT / 12 pm CAT / 3:30 pm IST |
| Venue: | Lusail Iconic Stadium, Qatar |
| Stream: | fuboTV (start with a free trial) |
Argentina squad & team news
Alarm bells started ringing when it was reported that Lionel Messi had trained individually. But the air has been cleared that the PSG forward is not suffering from any injury and it was simply by choice.
Lisandro Martinez and Exequiel Palacios were also working indoors but should be fit to feature. However, Joaquin Correa has been withdrawn with Thiago Almada taking his place.
Argentina possible XI: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Paredes, Mac Allister; Messi, L. Martinez, Di Maria
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Armani, Rulli, Martinez |
| Defenders | Foyth, Tagliafico, Montiel, Pezzella, Acuna, Romaro, Otamendi, Martinez, Molina. |
| Midfielders | Paredes, De Paul, Palacios, Almada, Gomez, Rodriguez, Mac Allister, Fernandez. |
| Forwards | Alvarez, Messi, Di Maria, Correa, Dybala, Martinez. |
READ ALSO: Messi’s Net Worth And Biography
Saudi Arabia squad and team news
Midfielder Riyadh Sharahili is suffering from a muscular problem and is likely to miss the tie while defender Hassan Tambakti refrained from training due to some discomfort.
Meanwhile, veteran forward Fahad Al-Muwallad has been left out after he failed a drug test.
Saudi Arabia possible XI: Al-Owais; Al-Burayk, Al-Amri, Al-Bulahyi, Al-Shahrani; Kanno, Al-Malki; Al-Shehri, Al-Faraj, Al-Daswari; Al-Buraikan
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Rubaie, Al-Qwais, Al-Aqidi. |
| Defenders | Al-Ghannam, Madu, Al-Amri, Al-Bulaihi, Al-Breik, Abdulhamid, Al-Shahrani, Tambakti. |
| Midfielders | Al-Faraj, Al-Malki, Al-Dawsari, Otayf, Al-Hassan, Al-Najei, Al-Abed, Bahebri, Al-Aboud, Kanno, Al-Dawsari, Sharahili. |
| Forwards | Al-Buraikan, Al-Shehri, Asiri. |
Nevertheless, it might be Argentina’s best opportunity to win a third championship, and as always, it’s hard to ignore the Lionel Messi tale. Winning the game’s grand prize would be a fitting way to cap off one of the most spectacular careers in football history. He is now performing at a level that is close to his very best after a challenging first year at Paris Saint-Germain.
Saudi Arabia came first on their list of targets. They may just be filling seats in Group C, but at least they beat out a qualification group that looked challenging and included Japan and Australia. They have a coach with significant tournament experience in manager Herve Renard, but they won’t make things simple.