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SAUDIS PUT MESSI & CO IN SHADE & STUN WORLD

WE expected shock and awe – but from Argentina not the Saudis.

We expected goals and a statement of intent from Lionel Messi and his serial thrillers who were on a run of 36 games without defeat – not this.

Not this monumental upset. Not this giant-killing of epic proportions.

Not this remarkable result to play havoc with the emotions given the Saudis’ issues outside football.

Argentina were last defeated by mighty Brazil more than three years ago – on June 15, 2019 to be exact.

Saudi Arabia are ranked 51st in the world and you would have been forgiven for believing they were even lower than that.

In their opening game of the 2018 World Cup, Herve Renard’s side were smashed 5-0 by Russia.

And after being drawn in Group C with the two-time world champions plus Robert Lewandowski’s Poland and Mexico you would have also been forgiven for believing they were the ‘easy’ three points.

But this sensational match soon became one that people in the UK going round their usual morning business suddenly found themselves scrabbling for the TV remote.

It was one of the biggest World Cup upsets of all time. A humbling to rank Senegal seeing off France in 2002 or the USA embarrassing England in 1950.

This was a huge moment for football in the Middle East (top left) – similar to the effect that Cameroon’s explosion into the big time in 1990, when they, too, beat Argentina, had in Africa.

An inspiration to future generations to fall in love with the beautiful game.

Renard was applauded into the press conference amid unprecedented scenes. He too admitted his side had written a new chapter in the history of World Cup football.

Messi had missed a sitter, scored an early penalty and Argentina had had no few than three goals disallowed for offside – one for him and two for Lautaro Martinez – in the first 35 minutes alone. But it was the Saudis who sent shock waves through this tournament.

Anyone keeping up with political events will know exactly why the Saudis’ murderous regime is not to be celebrated.

But this is a football competition and neutrals will have been cheering their footballers to the rafters of the stunning Lusail Stadium.

Argentina are in their 18th World Cup, their 13th in a row. They have lifted it twice – in 1978 and 1986.

Perhaps Lionel Scaloni’s side believed they only had to turn up to win.

Only that could explain the casual manner of Messi’s effort, less than two minutes in, from inside the box. Had he smashed it, keeper Mohamed Al Owais would have had no chance.

Instead the Paris Saint-germain superstar stroked it into the Al Hilal No.1’s arms.

A minute later, defender Saud Abdulhamid pulled down Leandro Paredes at a corner, VAR ordered a review and Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic gave a penalty which

Messi converted. The Argentina legend added a second, minutes later, sliding the ball under Al Owais, but had it ruled out for offside.

Twice Martinez then beat the Saudi keeper, once dinking him, the second time wrong-footing him with a lollipop. Both were chalked off for offside.

Then in the second-half all hell broke loose. First Saudi striker Saleh Al Shehri (top right, celebrating with Feras Al Brikan) showed terrific composure to beat Cristian Romero before firing across Emi Martinez and into the far corner.

Then celebrated winger Salem Al Dawsari sidestepped a challenge inside the box and scorched a shot into the far corner.

Argentina and Messi (above) looked punch drunk. An ageing side unable to find the legs to fight back

Al Owais saved easily from Messi and a ricochet from defender Nicolas Tagliafico. They had not lost a World Cup match in which they had scored first since 1958, but here they had nothing in reply.

Instead, the Saudis showed they could defend as well as attack.

In this first Arab World Cup this was the seismic result the region will toast for decades to come. The explosion of joy at the end will have reverberated around the world.