World Cup Day 3 – LIVE: Argentina lead through early Messi penalty
It’s day three of the World Cup and it’s time for Argentina, France, Mexico and Denmark to strut their stuff in the biggest tournament on earth.
Monday’s action saw England lay down a marker with a six-goal haul against Iran, and Gareth Bale step up to the plate once more to guide Wales to a draw with the United States.
It’s now over to Lionel Messi and his final attempt to win the World Cup with Argentina – they kick off the day’s action against Saudi Arabia.
Denmark and Tunisia follow in Group D, Mexico and Poland then square off in Group C’s other game, before France round off the day against Australia – the team they faced in the opening game of the 2018 World Cup.
Follow the action with 90min below.
Live text
35′ – GOAL…..RULED OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME! Martinez, ball in the net, the offside flag – you know the drill by now…
27′ – GOAL RULED OUT AGAIN! Slide-rule pass through to Martinez and he’s through on goal. The Inter striker shows great composure to dink it over Al-Owais and it’s 2-0 Argentina….or is it? It’s pulled back for another offside and Saudi Arabia survive!
21′ – GOAL RULED OUT! It’s a simple long ball over the top and Messi is through on goal. He slots the ball home with aplomb but the goal is correctly ruled out for offside. 1-0 it remains.
20′ – A decent spell for Saudi Arabia who have played themselves into the game. Not all one-way traffic as the early goal might have suggested it would be.
9 – GOAL! Messi tucks it away coolly and it’s 1-0 to Argentina! Game over?
8′ – PENALTY! There’s grappling in the box ahead of a Messi free-kick and VAR recommends the referee to award a penalty for holding – he duly does!
2′ – CHANCE! We’re underway and it’s immediately a chance for Argentina and Messi. Di Maria plays the ball in from the right flank, Martinez cushions it before running into traffic and the ball runs loose to Messi. He strokes it first time towards the corner but Mohammed Al-Owais gets down to make the save!
0′ – Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez spearhead Argentina’s attack, while there’s a start in defence for Tottenham’s Cristian Romero. Saudi Arabia’s chief threats are Saleh Al Shehri, who has 10 goals in 20 international appearances, and Salem Al-Dawsari.
0′ – LINEUPS CONFIRMED!
Preview
Argentina face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning in the first match for one of the World Cup’s favourites.
Lionel Scaloni’s side are unbeaten in competitive matches since losing to Brazil in the semi-final of the 2019 Copa America. Argentina were crowned champions of South America in 2021 and come into the competition without the familiar maelstrom of unease which has accompanied their recent World Cup appearances.
Saudi Arabia don’t boast quite the same lofty billing. The Green Falcons are the second-lowest-ranked nation at the World Cup (51st).
Prediction: Argentina 3-0 Saudi Arabia
Preview
Perennial World Cup dark horses Denmark face a far less fancied Tunisia in their opening group game on Tuesday lunchtime.
Denmark were imperious during World Cup qualification, securing their place in Qatar after eight games, eight wins and zero goals conceded. Tunisia defeated Mali by a narrow 1-0 aggregate scoreline in their two-legged play-off. “The match itself wasn’t fun,” Tunisia’s Mohamed Drager admitted, “it was a violent affair, but that’s football.”
Here’s everything you need to know about a contest with hopefully less violence but one which may not be much more fun for Tunisia.
Prediction: Denmark 2-0 Tunisia
Preview
Mexico’s bid to reach ‚el quinto partido‘ – the fifth match – begins on Tuesday afternoon against a Poland side just trying to get out of the group.
In each of the past seven World Cups, Mexico have fallen short in the round of 16. The home tournament of 1986 was the last time El Tri tasted the sweet nectar of a quarter-final. 1986 was also the year that Poland last made it beyond the group stage. Their fate was decided after just two games in 2018.
Here’s everything you need to know about the meeting between this pairing with clearly defined ambitions.
Prediction: Mexico 2-1 Poland
Preview
France face Australia on Tuesday evening in a rematch of their opening group stage game at the 2018 World Cup.
The first-ever use of VAR at a World Cup awarded France a penalty which Antoine Griezmann converted en route to a 2-1 victory for the eventual champions. Australia couldn’t muster a single win in Russia and haven’t claimed a World Cup scalp since 2010.
Prediction: France 2-1 Australia