Saudi Arabia stunned Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Tuesday, beating the two-time winners 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Disbelieving Saudis formed impromptu dance circles and waved the sword-emblazoned national flag from the windows of speeding cars in Riyadh on Tuesday after their team’s sensational win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
As the final whistle blew in the group-stage shocker with a 2-1 scorecard that ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten streak, fans watching on a big screen at a stadium in the capital Riyadh sent shisha pipes flying as they rushed to celebrate.
“Nothing is impossible for Saudi Arabia… The future is here and we are the future,” 35-year-old Tareq al-Shammari said at the Mrsool Park stadium, as fans stormed the pitch and belted out chants and songs around him.
“We have people who love football and we adore it,” said Sultan, wearing a white thobe (gown) and a green-and-white scarf.
“We are investing in infrastructure and we have all the capabilities to compete with European countries.”
