Argentina were offside SEVEN times in the first half against Saudi Arabia – more than their ENTIRE 2018 World Cup run – with three goals disallowed… but they are a long way off the all-time record of England’s TWENTY against Kuwait in 1982
Argentina would have been sick of the sight of the linesman’s flag after they were ruled offside seven times in the first-half against Saudi Arabia.
To make matters worse, the South American nation had three goals disallowed – with their opponents fighting back to take a shock lead in the second-half.
They have some catching up to do though with England holding the all-time World Cup record for twenty offsides in a full match – against Kuwait back in 1982.
Lionel Messi scored one of three goals that were disallowed against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday
Players will have been sick of the sight of the linesman’s flag and the VAR board inside the Lusail Stadium after they were offside seven times in total during the opening-half
England hold the record for most offsides in a World Cup match in their 1982 1-0 win over Kuwait where they were flagged a total of 20 times
Lionel Messi had given his side the lead after just ten minutes after slotting the ball home from the penalty spot.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar thought he had a second when he got in behind the Saudi defence and coolly slotted the ball home one-on-one, only to turn and see the raised flag from the assistant.
The unfancied Saudis played a very high line but it continued to pay off as Lautaro Martinez slipped through, went around the keeper and chipping home.
Martinez though had just strayed a fraction offside to Argentina’s disappointment.
Just minutes later he raced through again only to be judged offside again.
Messi had given Argentina the lead but was frustrated not to bag a second in the first-half
Lautaro Martinez narrowly strayed offside for his first of two which were disallowed
The offside decisions appeared to add to the nerves for Argentina as their opponents started to put on the pressure.
Remarkably, Saudi Arabia turned the game around eight minutes into the second-half with Saleh Al-Shehri opening the scoring before Salem Al-Dawsari added a second.
England occupy two of the top three spots for countries that have had the most offsides in a World Cup game.
Their 20 against Kuwait in 1982, is followed by Czechoslovakia also getting 18 against the same team in 1982, with the Three Lions getting 16 against France at the 1966 tournament.
Messi and his team-mates have endured a frustrating start to their World Cup campaign despite being one of the favourites to lift the trophy next month.
It is likely to be Messi’s final chance at lifting football’s grandest prize – the only major trophy missing from his illustrious CV.
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