Qatar World Cup: Lesson from Argentina

By Olisemeka Sony

We all watched and cheered Saudi Arabia as the emerging football power when they inflicted a sensational defeat to Argentina in their first opening group C game on November 22.
Argentina’s 1-2 defeat to a 51st-ranked team was adjudged one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
The fact that the Saudis came from a goal down to seal the victory, thanks to goals by Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari made it more damaging. Although the Albecelestials scored three disallowed goals during the encounter did not matter to fans.

Argentina, which came into the 2022 World Cup as one of the favourites had been beaten. The image of a dejected-looking Lionel Messi at the final whistle made front-page news across the globe.
And there was a more compelling reason the world reacted to the defeat in such a deafening manner.

They had not lost in 36 games, one shy of the men’s international record of undefeated streaks. Secondly, Qatar was supposed to be Messi’s World Cup, the moment when, at the very least, he would win the one tournament that has continued to elude him. So, the defeat in the first game put that quest on the brink of collapse.

And so, as the world gloated over their downfall, the Argentines went back to the drawing board, to reassess themselves and restrategize. Rescuing their world cup campaign became not just the teams but a national project that was given priority. By the time they returned for their second game against Mexico, it was an entirely different story.
Back-to-back victories against Mexico and Poland, ensured that Argentina clawed its way back and finished as the group winner. In contrast, the Saudi Arabia team that started the tournament on fire were dumped out after two straight losses in the second and final group games.

Messi and Julian Alvarez scored in their 2-1 victory against Australia in the Round of 16, before they sent the Netherlands packing in the Quarter Finals via a penalty shootout. Yet the world was not convinced that Messi led Argentina on its way to snatching the trophy and taking it back to Buenos Aires.

Doubters were silenced when a ruthless Argentina pummeled an impressive Croatia by 3-0. But many still see France, an impressive side that also defeated Morocco, another surprise world cup package, in the semi-final as capable of upsetting Messi and co’s apple carts. However, by the time the final game kicked off, nobody was in doubt about how determined the Argentines were about taking the cup home. Although France managed to claw back to 2-0 and later 3-2, the Argentines ensured that they never achieve their quest for a back-to-back world cup title.

It was a perfect example of how to fight your way back from misfortune or temporary setbacks. They laughed and jeered at Messi after his first match in Qatar. But he never allowed that to dissuade or distract him. He stayed focused, and the defeat fired him and his teammates up. Like wounded lions, they fought with every tactic and determination they could muster. You could see it in their eyes.

In the final game, Messi was cheered and crowned as the tournament’s most valuable player. And he left no one in doubt that it was a crown, a prize that he worked hard and won.
How many of us can emulate that?!

Olisemeka is a chief observer!