By Betsefy
Argentina get their World Cup campaign underway against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with Lionel Scaloni‘s side heading into the tournament among the favourites to lift the trophy.
La Albiceleste will certainly be heavily fancied to at least open their tournament with a win against a team ranked 48 places below them in the world, although they have not taken on Saudi Arabia directly for more than a decade.
The last meeting between the two sides ended goalless too, despite Argentina having the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero in their starting lineup for the friendly against Frank Rijkaard‘s Saudi outfit.
However, the two-time World Cup winners are unbeaten in their four previous meetings with Tuesday’s opponents, winning twice and drawing twice in those games.
The most recent victory came over 30 years ago, though, with Argentina winning 3-1 in a Confederations Cup clash courtesy of goals from Leonardo Rodriguez, Claudio Caniggia and Diego Simeone.
The other two meetings came in the space of 10 days at the Bicentennial Gold Cup in 1988, with the two sides sharing a 2-2 draw in their first-ever meeting before Argentina ran out 2-0 winners a week-and-a-half later, with Simeone again on the scoresheet.
Saudi Arabia will therefore be looking for their first-ever win against Argentina on Tuesday, although the fact that they have kept Messi and co goalless in the past may boost their optimism of pulling off an upset.
ARGENTINA VS. SAUDI ARABIA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Argentina wins: 2
Saudi Arabia wins: 0
Draws: 2
Argentina goals: 7
Saudi Arabia goals: 3
MATCH HISTORY
November 14, 2012: Saudi Arabia 0-0 Argentina (International friendly)
October 20, 1992: Saudi Arabia 1-3 Argentina (Confederations Cup)
July 16, 1988: Argentina 2-0 Saudi Arabia (Bicentennial Gold Cup)
July 6, 1988: Argentina 2-2 Saudi Arabia (Bicentennial Gold Cup)
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