Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni commented on the team’s 2-1 loss vs. Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Scaloni coached his first game at a World Cup and spoke to the media after the game. Here is what he had to say:

“It’s difficult to assimilate because in four or five minutes they scored both goals against us with their only shots on target. There is no other option but to get up. We have to win the enxt two games, we don’t have to anylize more than that. Today is a sad day but we have to keep our heads high and keep going.

“We knew how they would play and we had prepared for the game during the week with defensive lines. The offsides were millimeters, it’s the new technology. But beyond that, what they did, they did well.

“The first half I believe was all us and those offside situations, at another moment, would have been a goal. At half time we had mentioned that the game was weird and that a goal could change anything and that’s what happened. They drew and practically the next play they made it 2-1 for them.

“We will analyze with a lot of calmness. I haven’t spoken to the players yet because they are hurt and are thinking of the result but about turning the situation around. It is about winning the following games and that is where we are at.”

Lionel Messi commented on Argentina’s 2-1 loss vs. Saudi Arabia at the World Cup.

Messi spoke to the media following the team’s loss against Saudi Arabia. Here is what he had to say:

“We have to go back to the base of who we are. We have to think about what’s coming.

“We knew that Saudi Arabia is a good team with good players, that if you let them, they’ll play well and that they defended that way. That’s why the situations we had were a little rushed.

“There are no excuses. We have to be more united than ever. This group is strong and has shown it. It’s a situation we haven’t gone through in a long time. Now we have to show that this is a real group.

“That the people trust us. It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this. Things happen for a reason. We have to prepare for what’s coming, we have to win and it depends on us. We began to cross, trying desperately to find the draw and it wouldn’t happen.”

Lautaro Martínez spoke to the media after Argentina’s shock 2-1 loss vs. Saudi Arabia.

Martínez was one of the first players to speak to the media after the game. Lautaro had two goals disallowed in the first half as Saudi Arabia would score two in the second half. The 25 year old spoke to the media after the game. Here is what he had to say:

“We lost the game due to our mistakes, more than anything in the second half. These are details that make the difference and we must correct them.

“We should have scored more than one goal in the first half but this is a World Cup and now we have two finals left.

“This hurts a lot. We had big hope of starting the World Cup with a win. But this is over and now we must train and think about what’s to come.”

Lionel Messi scored for Argentina but it was a 2-1 shock defeat vs. Saudi Arabia in the World Cup opening game in the group.

Messi scored his first goal of the 2022 World Cup and Argentina created several opportunities in the first half. Lionel Scaloni’s team scored three more times in the first half but all three were disallowed for offside.

Argentina went into the second half with a 1-0 lead but it quickly disappeared. Cristian Romero was unable to close down Saleh Alshehri who scored to draw Saudi Arabia level.

Just five minutes later, Salem Aldawsari scored a goal which no goalkeeper would have saved. Saudi Arabia had taken a 2-1 lead and Argentina came close having an effort which was cleared off the line.

Lionel Scaloni made three substitutions after the goal. Lisandro Martínez replaced Cristian Romero, Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández replaced Papu Gómez and Leandro Paredes. Marcos Acuña was brought on for Nicolás Tagliafico.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has named his starting eleven for the game vs. Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Scaloni has went with a front three of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Ángel Di María in the opening group stage game for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. Emiliano Dibu Martínez starts with Nicolás Tagliafico starting in place of Marcos Acuña.

Nahuel Molina is in place of Gonzalo Montiel and Juan Foyth with Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi completing the back line. Alejandro Papu Gómez starts in midfield with Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul. Here is the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alejandro Papu Gómez; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Ángel Di María.