Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia Coach Hervé Renard Backs Argentina to Win World Cup Despite Opening Day Defeat

• Hervé Renard has backed Argentina to advance from the group stage and further clinch their third World Cup in Qatar
• Renard embellished his renowned international football résumé masterminding Saudi Arabia's greatest-ever result
• Up next for Renard's Saudi Arabia is a tie against Poland, who shared the spoils with Mexico while Argentina lock horns with El Tri

Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard has tipped Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite their opening-day loss.

Hervé Renard masterminded Argentina's first defeat in 36 matches with a stunning 2-1 victory at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, November 22.

Renard's mammoth feat against one of the front runners of this year's Mundial ensured Saudi Arabia became the first non-European nation to beat La Albiceleste in the history of the tournament, as noted by Sky Sports.

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Following the end of the game, the Saudi manager reckoned Argentina's opening day slump against his side is only a blip and even tipped them to win the tournament.

"Argentina are going to advance out of the group stage and will be champions," via Olé as quoted by Roy Nemer.

Messi speaks after shocking defeat

Lionel Messi has called on his side to be "more united than ever" as he insists his country has no excuses after a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their World Cup opener on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia produced the upset of the World Cup after coming from behind to claim a famous 2-1 victory over a nation considered one of the favourites to win this edition of the global spectacle.

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The shock result leaves Argentina needing a positive result against Mexico and Poland to stand any chance of making it out of the group stages, and Messi is all too aware of this fact.

Saudi Arabia announces public holiday

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Saudi Arabia has declared Wednesday, November 23 as a public holiday after its historic FIFA World Cup victory over pre-tournament favourites Argentina.

The Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia stunned two-time world champions Argentina with a 2-1 comeback victory that will go down as one of the greatest-ever upsets in the history of the World Cup.

Lionel Messi put La Albiceleste in front after just 10 minutes and had three goals disallowed for offside, but Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari struck in the space of five second-half minutes to turn the game on its head.