LUSAIL (QATAR), 22 Nov. (dpa/EP) -
The Argentine forward Leo Messi insisted on Tuesday that "there are no excuses" after the defeat (1-2) against Saudi Arabia, the first big surprise of the tournament, and asked to be "more united than ever" and "show" that they are a "true team" in the face of this adverse situation.
"There is no excuse. We must be even more united than ever and show now that we are a true team", stated the '10' after one of the biggest surprises in the history of the World Cups, after the 'Albiceleste' was a one of the top candidates to lift the trophy.
Now, the team led by Scaloni is obliged not to 'stumble' against Mexico and Poland, the toughest rivals, a priori, in the group. "We haven't been in a situation like this for a long time," Messi admitted, adding that the defeat was "a hard blow" as no one "expected to start like that."
Messi put Argentina ahead with a penalty in the first half, in which they also disallowed three goals against the 'Albiceleste' for offside. But Saudi Arabia woke up after the break, supported by a greater physical effort, to come back and end the unbeaten streak enjoyed by the Argentine team (36), with goals from Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari.