Great to see Papu Gomez in the starting line-up. Tottenham fans may not miss Giovanni Lo Celso but Argentina are reeling from his absence at the World Cup. He played an integral role in the Albiceleste winning the Copa America for the first time since 1993. Papu is entrusted with making up the creative shortfall.
The teams are out and kick-off is fast approaching for the first of four games today! Argentina are in fantastic form – they have won their last five games by an aggregate score of 14-0.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, are not known for their thrillers – in their last nine games, only once has more than one goal been scored, And for Leo Messi, in what is likely his final World Cup, how is he seeing things?
I feel really good. I’m more mature and so I try to enjoy every moment to its fullest,” he said yesterday. “I want to experience this with a lot of intensity but also enjoy every single moment, whether it’s the World Cup or before during the Copa America, or when we were praised throughout this process, in every game. Today I feel like I’m enjoying all of it.
After some intense preparation under their French coach, Saudi Arabia head to a World Cup on their neighbours’ home turf. But Saudi Arabia lack quality, particularly up front. They may have a history of pulling off dramatic upsets, but they will be very much up against it in Group C.