Sheikh and awe! The Saudis put Argentina to the sword
SWORD aloft, a Saudi Arabia fan celebrates yesterday after the World Cup underdogs gave favourites Argentina a sharp lesson in defeat.
Supporters of the Gulf kingdom cheered outside the Lusail Stadium, with one berobed fan brandishing a curved scimitar.
Argentina were humiliated 2-1 by the team ranked 51st in the world in one of the greatest tournament upsets in history. Saudi’s rulers announced a public holiday today to celebrate. Argentina supporters looked dejected but there were taunts of ‘don’t cry for me Argentina’ from Three Lions fans with memories of Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal 36 years ago.
The Saudi manager, Frenchman Herve Renard, once coached Cambridge United but was so bad he was sacked in 2004. Yesterday he said of the stunning win: ‘It was totally crazy.’ In wild scenes after full-time, his players held an incredible dressing room celebration where they sprayed water – rather than champagne – as alcohol is punishable by public flogging in their home country.
Booze is also banned from stadiums by Qatar’s morality sheikhs. It came as Saudi Arabia was accused of using the World Cup as a distraction for a spree of beheadings, executing 12 people in the last 14 days for drug offences.