Slowly, quietly, Argentina’s gamers made their manner again to their coaching camp in Doha, away from Lusail, away from a spot they may by no means need to see once more however the place they may hope, greater than something, to return.
Nobody on that journey needed to speak. The solely voice was that of Lionel Messi, urging his devastated teammates to stay united, reminding them that even after defeat towards Saudi Arabia, their destiny continues to be of their arms. When they reached the lodge, Lionel Scaloni and his teaching workers advised the gamers that, for as soon as, their postgame meal was optionally available. If they didn’t really feel like speaking, they might keep of their rooms, to ponder, to grieve.
Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia might, in time, come to be seen because the worst within the nation’s historical past, past even the embarrassment of Cameroon in 1990. It is scant solace, but it surely mustn’t go down as the best shock within the World Cup’s historical past: It is just not of the order of the United States beating England in 1950 and North Korea overcoming Italy in 1966.
It is, although, a stark warning to the three European heavyweights who enter the competition in the present day that nothing will be taken as a right. None of Spain, Germany and Belgium got here into this event with expectations fairly as excessive as Argentina, admittedly.
Spain, with solely the apparently immortal Sergio Busquets remaining from the staff that received the World Cup in 2010, is younger and energetic, however inexperienced; Belgium’s age is seen as its weak point, the sense being that its second has come and gone. Germany has the air of a staff in transition.
Their opponents, too, could have been heartened by Saudi Arabia’s achievements. Costa Rica made the quarterfinals eight years in the past; why ought to it worry Spain? Canada has not been right here since 1986 however has two genuinely thrilling stars to unsettle the Belgians’ creaking protection. Japan has a squad with loads of expertise in Europe. They all, in truth, have benefits that Saudi Arabia didn’t. If the Saudis might trigger a shock, what’s to cease anyone else?
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