DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Sadly for Argentina followers, it wasn’t only a unhealthy dream. Their group actually did lose 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in one of many greatest shocks within the World Cup’s 92-year historical past.Now the stress is on Lionel Messi and Argentina, who can not afford to lose their subsequent match towards Mexico on Saturday in the event that they wish to maintain their World Cup hopes alive.“It’s time to be united, flip the web page and now not take into consideration what occurred,” Messi mentioned after the humiliating defeat towards Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked group within the event. “Take reflections, take the positives to enhance what we did fallacious and take into consideration Mexico. We all the time mentioned we had been going to look to win each recreation and now greater than ever.”A lot for Argentina arriving in Qatar in superb form to win a 3rd World Cup, having gained the Copa America final yr and been on a 36-game unbeaten run. Now there are doubts bobbing up in all places. Are key gamers match sufficient? Does Lionel Scaloni — Argentina’s unintended coach — have the expertise to deal with the stress of a World Cup? And may Messi, now 35, nonetheless carry Argentina to the one prize in soccer nonetheless to elude him?Worryingly, Messi spoke of “nervousness” that crept into his group.“The objective so early (within the second half) harm us, it made us confused,” Messi mentioned. “We knew it may occur within the first recreation, if we didn’t play in the easiest way we had been doing, and I believe that occurred to us. We didn’t discover the efficiency or the sport that we’ve been demonstrating for a very long time.”In some methods, the loss to the Saudis was a freak end result. They scored with two of their three pictures on objective, all of which got here within the second half. Argentina may simply have been two or three objectives forward by halftime if it wasn’t for a few marginal offside calls solely found by video assessment. And Argentina created sufficient possibilities late within the recreation to take no less than a draw.But, there have been sufficient issues to make even essentially the most optimistic Argentina fan involved.Some gamers clearly weren’t at peak health. Cristian Romero, the middle again rounded too simply by Saleh Alshehri for the primary objective, hasn’t performed for the final month at English membership Tottenham due to a muscle harm and didn’t look prepared. Equally, Leandro Paredes and striker Angel Di Maria have performed restricted minutes since October after accidents.That Romero and Paredes had been substituted quickly after Saudi Arabia’s second objective within the 53rd was a sign one thing was not proper.Middle midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and proper again Nahuel Molina should not regulars for Atletico Madrid and lacked sharpness. De Paul, particularly, ended up scuffling with the Saudis’ surprising depth and physicality.Giovani Lo Celso, a favourite of Scaloni however out of the World Cup due to harm, was missed in midfield. Middle again Nicolas Otamendi began towards Saudi Arabia, however Scaloni could go for Lisandro Martínez towards Mexico, given his bettering kind for Manchester United this season.There was already a fragile look to Argentina’s protection within the first half, below restricted stress from the Saudis. That was uncovered all through the second half, forcing Messi to drop deeper seeking the ball.Messi insisted the day earlier than the sport that he was in good condition, regardless of coaching individually two days final week and being pictured with padding round his proper ankle. He was nonetheless a pleasure to look at in Tuesday’s recreation with the ball at his toes and when given area however he discovered himself crowded out within the second half. At 35, he may discover it tough to play intense matches each 4 days on the World Cup.Argentina has three days to kind issues out earlier than they return to Lusail stadium, the place the Saudis prompted one of many World Cup’s greatest upsets, to play Mexico. The 89,000-seat stadium may also stage the World Cup closing on Dec. 18,Goalkeeper Emi Martinez mentioned that Argentina will go into the Mexico recreation as in the event that they had been enjoying for the title.“Saturday is our first World Cup closing,” he mentioned, including the early defeat could assist impress the group. “If we wish to be world champions, it’s good to have a stumble,” he mentioned. “A stumble isn’t a fall.”______Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
World Cup loss raises doubts about Argentina’s health
