Messi has ‘no excuse’ as Argentina fall to Saudis

An angry Lionel Messi said Argentina can have “no excuses” after they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in Qatar in one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. The forward opened the scoring from the penalty spot but it was all Saudi Arabia from there as they ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run. Saleh Al-shehri fired a low shot into the net in the 48th minute and Salem Aldawsari angled in a second deflected goal five minutes later.

Sport, pages 8-9