The 2022 World Cup is up and running. We are treated to a feast of four games today and you can follow all the action with us live here.
Mexico v Poland
Scorers: N/A
Mexico begin their tournament looking to take advantage of Argentina’s defeat to Saudi Arabia earlier in the day whilst Robert Lewandowski leads the line for Poland as the Barcelona striker continues in the hunt for his first-ever World Cup goal.
From earlier…
Tunisia frustrate Denmark
Tunisia battled hard to earn a well-deserved point against Denmark, despite a credible late shout for a penalty.
Jalel Kadri’s side started aggressively, with Denmark on the back foot from the outset.
There was soon a hairy moment for Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was left flat-footed after Mohamed Dräger’s shot took a wicked deflection off Andreas Christensen and went just wide.
After nothing had come from a superb delivery into the box from a Christian Eriksen free-kick, Issam Jebali had the ball in the back of the net for Tunisia, but the attempt was ruled out for a clear offside.
Just before the break, Schmeichel was called into action again, spreading himself wide to save an almost certain goal from Jebali.
Denmark had their turn for a disallowed goal, when a well-executed finish from Andreas Skov Olsen was ruled out by the assistant referee.
As they tried to grab more of a foothold into the game, Eriksen forced a superb top-handed save from Aymen Dahmen, and Andreas Cornelius somehow missed a gilt-edged chance on the line from the resulting corner.
Denmark had chances late on, and Tunisia had a late reprieve when the referee went to the screen to check for a handball, but opted against giving the penalty.
Saudi Arabia stun Argentina
Scorers: Messi (PEN) 10′; Al-Shehri 48′, Al-Dawsari 54′.
Saudi Arabia came from behind to inflict a stunning defeat on Argentina in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.
It was all going so well for Argentina when they took the lead after just 10 minutes with Lionel Messi netting from the penalty spot after Leandro Paredes had been pulled to the floor in the box.
That goal meant Messi became the first Argentinian player to score at four different World Cups.
It looked as if it was going to be a comfortable victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side from that point with Argentina continually getting in behind their opponent’s back line, seeing Messi have another goal ruled out for offside before Lautaro Martínez had VAR intervene to chalk off his effort.
But two goals in six minutes at the start of the second half changed the whole complexion of this game.
First, Saleh Al-Shehri burst into the box to drill a left-footed effort into the bottom corner before Salem Al-Dawsari left the Argentines stunned with a powerful curler from the edge of the box which rifled into the top corner to give his side the lead.
Argentina pushed in search of an equaliser and Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais had to be alert to palm out an attempt via Nicolas Tagliafico’s knee from just four yards out.
Julian Alvárez then had a shot cleared off the line with Alowais on the floor and the goal gaping in a frantic end to the game in stoppage time.
That was about as close as they got as a resilient Saudi Arabia side held on to inflict a first defeat on Argentina since March 2019, bringing to an end a run of 36 games without defeat
