Argentina vs Saudi Arabia: Tues 22nd Nov, 10:00am
Saudi Arabia’s short trip to Qatar will be their sixth World Cup, but they have only made it out of the group stage on one occasion previously.
And that record does not look like improving this time around after being drawn in Group B with Argentina, Mexico and Poland.
In fact, despite qualifying comfortably Herve Renard’s 51st-ranked team look like being the whipping boys.
They warmed up for the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Croatia on Wednesday in Riyadh and first up is a hard-looking clash with Lionel Messi’s Argentina, one of the tournament favourites.
The bookies have Saudi priced up as big as 22/1 to defeat Lionel Scaloni’s side – and looking at the two squads it’s easy to see why.
It’s a very tough assignment for Saudi Arabia and Argentina are expected to win with minimum fuss.
Mexico vs Poland: Tues 22nd Nov, 4:00pm
This Group C fixture looks a tough one to call and one in which neither side will want to lose with Argentina expected to get past Saudi Arabia.
The pair will both be confident of edging through into the last 16 alongside La Albiceleste. But Poland have managed to get past the group stage only once at a major tournament this century.
Mexico, on the other hand, had made the knockout stages of every World Cup since 1994.
But they hardly come into the tournament in confidence with main striker Raul Jimenez not scoring from open play since 2019.
Poland, meanwhile, will play with a back three. But forget the notion that Poland will be any more expansive because in coach Czesław Michniewicz they have a pragmatist.
They do have more familiar names with Robert Lewandowski leading the line, but have an ageing defence, which could mean Michniewicz is cautious about throwing bodies forward.
It could all point to a cagey affair at Stadium 974 and if there was ever a game with 0-0 written all over it, this is it.
