Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Argentina, Football World Cup
Daniel Marland
Argentina's 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia at the World Cup has cost one football fan a staggering $160,000.
The two-time winners were stunned at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday despite taking the lead through a Lionel Messi penalty after 10 minutes.
Herve Renard's side turned the game on its head after the break with two goals in quick succession. Saudi Arabia, who didn't take their foot off the gas all game, levelled through Saleh Al-Shehri.
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Five minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari cut inside to unleash a sensational effort too hot for Emiliano Martinez to handle.
It brings Argentina's 36-game unbeaten run to an end and hands Lionel Scaloni's side an uphill battle to qualify from Group C.
For one unlucky punter, it was more than a humiliating defeat. It was an obscene amount of money going to waste.
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Per the Daily Mail, Australian betting company TAB has confirmed one confident customer lumped $160,000 on Argentina to beat Saudi Arabia, who are 48 places behind Messi and co. in FIFA's world rankings.
Odds were at $1.13, which would've netted a $180,800 return. That only works out at $20,000 in profit.
Argentina had three goals ruled out in the first half as Saudi Arabia's high line expertly sprung the offside trap.
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They increased the pressure in the second half in search for an equaliser. Saudi Arabia's backline put their bodies on the line to see out the biggest result of their history and condemn Argentina to their first defeat since July 2019.
Scaloni was asked if his team took Saudi Arabia lightly post-match, which he vehemently denied.
"We fully respect Saudi Arabia as we do with other teams, that’s not the reason for our defeat," he declared.
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"They are a good team with technical players, they are very well prepared physically."
Argentina will now face Mexico on Saturday evening in a huge game.
Qualification is vital for Messi, who previously said this would be his last World Cup as an active player.
The other team in Group C is Poland, who face Saudi Arabia on Saturday afternoon.