Argentina have had salt rubbed in their wounds after it emerged that VAR made a remarkable error during their disastrous 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Messi and Co were stunned in their World Cup opener, as Herve Renard's side came from behind to pull off one of the tournament's all-time greatest upsets. The talismanic Messi had put Argentina - one of the favourites to win the competition given their status as South American champions - ahead from the penalty spot after just 10 minutes, and there didn't seem to be any surprises on the horizon in Doha.
But spectacular second-half strikes from Saleh Al-Shehri and Saudi captain Salem Al-Dawsari within four minutes of one another turned Tuesday's David vs Goliath clash on its head. However, the Argentines could've been two goals clear long before half-time, as striker Lautaro Martinez had a 28th-minute goal ruled out for offside by VAR after the on-field linesman initially allowed it to stand.
FIFA's state-of-the-art technology soon detected that Inter Milan star Martinez was narrowly ahead of his marker when teammate Papu Gomez played him through, keeping the scoreline 1-0. Somehow, though, VAR official Abdelhak Etchiali had traced the semi-automatic offside system to the wrong Saudi player and not their actual furthest man back, Yasser Al-Shahrani.
It turns out that the Green Falcons defender was indeed playing Martinez onside, whose well-taken goal should've stood and given Argentina two-goal advantage at the Lusail Stadium. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni appeared to lay a heavy portion of the blame for his side's shocking loss on FIFA's technology, having also had two more goals ruled out for offside in the first half.
"The reasons were millimetric," Scaloni bemoaned post-match. "The offsides, they have a high defensive line, we knew that any goal situation would go for or against us. In this case, the semi-automatic offside technology took a goal away from us. That's the way it is, we congratulate our rivals."
The correct decision would've undoubtedly altered the course of the game and, potentially, the entire World Cup. Argentina topping their group was seen as one of the safest bets ahead of the tournament, but Group C has been blown wide open thanks to Saudi - tipped to the whipping boys of the group - incredibly ending the opening day in first place.
Following Mexico 's dower 0-0 draw with Poland, Argentina are now the only team who can't finish matchday two - which for Group C takes place this Saturday - on top. "What comes ahead is to rise up, to face Mexico," Scaloni also affirmed. "They will be tough, as everyone is at the World Cup.
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"Now we need to win two games to move on. Of course this is difficult but regardless of the result today we would anyway try to win all the games," the Albiceleste boss added. "Today is a sad day but as we always say, head up and carry on. We played well in the first half, but in two specific moments the game changed. We could have done better but we need to pick ourselves up."
Argentina's hotly-anticipated clash with Mexico takes place at 7pm UK time on Saturday, six hours after Poland kick off against Saudi Arabia.
