‘SAUDIS NOT HERE TO BE ALSO-RENS’

SAUDI ARABIA face Lionel Messi’s Argentina with a double motivation.

Boss Herve Renard wants his side to make their mark at the first World Cup in the Middle East, following host nation Qatar’s 2-0 defeat to Ecuador. And they want to stop Messi, who is apparently sleeping alone to ensure his last dance on the grandest stage is one to remember.

Renard said: “We didn’t come here just to participate. We will try to be at the level of the event and we want the Saudi people to be proud of us.”