Argentina vs Saudi Arabia: the 1×1 of the national team in a match with more delays than consents

Emiliano Martinez (5): Nothing doing in the two goals, which were also Saudi Arabia’s only two dangerous shots.

Nahuel Molina (4): He has been noted at times related to his world premiere though for others it has gone well all the way but they have not dumped for him. Arabia’s second goal came from their own sector.

Cristiano Romero (5): It was the best defense that was just disturbed in the first half. And he also organized the best valid attacking game in that period. He failed to close in Saudi Arabia’s first goal. There he felt uncomfortable and was replaced.

Nicolas Otamendi (5): He had almost no job. He saved a header intended for goal, but in the next game came the double of Arabia.

Nicolas Tagliafico (4): Without a goal reference, he was pointed to as an alternative to generate space on the left wing. But they didn’t look for him too much and when he had the chance he didn’t have the lucidity to finish the play.

Angelo Di Maria (6): He searched and searched throughout the game, but lacked the clarity for the final point. In the second set he overflowed well on the right, but his centre-backs couldn’t find a receiver.

Rodrigo DePaul (4): He played in Atlético de Madrid mode. Boring, unclear, with little dynamics. He made many mistakes in handling the ball.

Leandro Paredes (4): Inaccurate, without his usual pivot to become the axis of the midfield. Still surprised by the change in him.

Alessandro Gomez (6): Papu was clearer in the first half. With a lot of mobility on the wing, but also in closing to generate play. He assisted Lautaro Martínez in one of the goals which was disallowed for offside.

Lionel Messi (4): The match started well with a near goal and the successful penalty. Then it was difficult for him to find space in the super compact block that his rival raised. He lost the ball in Saudi Arabia’s first goal. A loose debut for La Pulce in his fifth World Cup.

Lautaro Martinez (4): He showed his usual dedication to be the first defender but looked anxious and fell too many times in the forward position. He had defined with excellence what was his first goal in a World Cup, canceled for offside.

Lisandro Martínez (5): He came on for the injured Romero, when the game was already 1-2. Since then Arabia has hardly attacked.

Enzo Fernandez (5): He played as a central midfielder and looked to add dynamics to a squad that was already in a hurry and confused.

Giuliano Alvarez (5): He came in as a midfielder on the left, as he sometimes does at City, was good in the rearguard but contributed little in attack.

Marco Acuna (5): He entered through an exhausted Tagliafico looking for more depth on the left. However, their centers did not carry too many dangers.

Doha, Qatar. Special Envoys.

GL