Lionel Messi, Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia: Storylines, Odds, Live Stream for World Cup
Argentina is in the ideal position to start what is potentially Lionel Messi's final FIFA World Cup off with a win.
They begin Group C action against Saudi Arabia at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday. It is the first of four games set to be played in Qatar on Tuesday.
La Albiceleste are an overwhelming favorite to beat Saudi Arabia, and to win the match by multiple goals, to start off their chase for the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar.
Messi gave us a look at his form heading into the World Cup in a 5-0 friendly win over the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. The Paris Saint-Germain star scored once, and Ángel Di María struck a double.
Saudi Arabia is viewed as one of the weakest teams in 32-squad field and earning a result against Argentina would be viewed as a major surprise.
Odds and Match Info
Odds
Argentina (-600; bet $600 to win $100)
Saudi Arabia (+1700; bet $100 to win $1,700)
Draw (+700)
Over 2.5 Goals (-160); Under 2.5 Goals (+130)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Match Info
Date: Tuesday, November 22
Start Time: 5 a.m. ET
TV: FS1
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app
How Will Messi Open the 2022 World Cup?
Lionel Messi is the first player you think of when the Argentina men's national team is mentioned.
The PSG player has 91 goals in 165 appearances for his national team, and this year represents his fifth World Cup. At 35, however, this could be his last chance to win the tournament.
Messi came closest to becoming a World Cup winner in 2014, when Argentina finished runner-up to Germany. He has achieved some success within South America, though, as he won the 2021 Copa América with his national team.
The former Barcelona star has only scored once in the opening match of a World Cup in his career, when he netted a 65th-minute strike against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014.
Messi has always played with a wealth of attacking talent around him, but Tuesday's match against Saudi Arabia is a great chance for him to make an immediate mark. Argentina could win by multiple goals, and he will likely be involved in many attacking opportunities.
Look for Messi to combine with Ángel Di María and Lautaro Martínez on a frequent basis, as Argentina tries to pad its goal differential before tougher Group C matchups against Mexico and Poland.
Saudi Arabia Needs to Avoid Blowout Loss
Saudi Arabia has not had great experiences in the group stage over its last three World Cup appearances.
The team dropped its opening match in 2018 by five goals to Russia. It conceded once against Uruguay and then produced two goals of its own against Egypt to finish with a minus-seven goal differential.
In 2006, Saudi Arabia suffered a 4-0 group-stage defeat to Ukraine and finished with a minus-five goal differential. Four years earlier, it lost 8-0 to Germany to kick off the World Cup. It ended with a minus-12 goal differential in that edition of the tournament.
Saudi Arabia has suffered at least one blowout loss in each of its last three World Cup appearances, and a similar result could be on the horizon on Tuesday.
The aim for the Saudi team should be to remain within two or three goals of Argentina so that the goal differential is not shot after 90 minutes. Goal differential is the first tiebreaker to get to the knockout round, and the Group C underdog needs to keep that total low if it wants any chance of earning a surprise berth in the round of 16.
Saudi Arabia has played in 10 straight friendlies ahead of the 2022 World Cup but has failed to score more than once in any of them since it securing qualification to Qatar.
Only three of those friendlies were against World Cup teams. The team drew 0-0 with both Ecuador and the United States, but it lost 1-0 to Croatia in its final game before the tournament last week.
The defensive organization is there within the Saudi team, but whether it can hold up against an attack of Argentina's quality remains to be seen.
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