AL DAAYEN, Qatar (22-NOVEMBER) —— Lionel Messi starts for Argentina in today’s Group C clash with Saudi Arabia at the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 at Lusail Stadium here in Al Daayen on Tuesday’s Day 3. You can watch live streaming coverage on the Fox Sports App in the USA with Fox Sports 1 providing the TV broadcast, starting at 5:00 am ET.
There were rumors that Messi might not be fully fit for today’s game but the Paris Saint-Germain forward does start and looks comfortable moving around at the team’s pre-game warm-up on the sidelines for the two-time World Cup champion.
Lautaro Martínez, scored seven goals in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, will play in front of Messi at the center of the attack and he will be hoping to benefit from the attacking midfielder’s potential brilliance on the ball. Ángel Di María and Papu Gómez will also support in the attack.
Manchester United central defender Lisandro Martinez misses out through injury and so Tottenham’s Cristian Romero will play alongside Nicolas Otamendi in the back four.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez starts in goal. Read More: Day 3 Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 TV channels, start times – Nov. 22
Saudi Arabia will look to Saleh Al Shehri to lead the attack from the left wing. Al Shehri was the joint-top scorer of the AFC third-round qualifiers for Qatar 2022 with four goals and after scoring with all four of his shots on target, the striker will be aiming to take that form into the World Cup against an Argentina side that is one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Meanwhile, midfielder Riyadh Sharahili misses out because of injury but defender Hassan Tambakti starts having overcoming a fitness issue of his own.
Argentina: Damian Martinez, Tagliafico, Romero, Otamendi, Molina, Paredes, De Paul, Messi, Di Maria, Gomez, Lautaro Martinez. Subs: Armani, Foyth, Montiel, Pezzella, Acuna, Alvarez, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Rodriguez, Mac Allister, Dybala, Fernandez, Lisandro Martinez, Rulli.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Owais, Al-Bulayhi, Abdulhamid, Al-Shahrani, Tambakti, Al-Malki, Salem Al-Dawsari, Al-Shehri, Kanno, Al-Faraj, Al-Buraikan. Subs: Al-Rubaie, Al-Ghanam, Madu, Al-Amri, Al-Burayk, Otayf, Al-Hassan, Al-Naji, Al-Abed, Bahbri, Al-Aboud, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Asiri, Sharahili, Al-Aqidi.
