World Cup Diary: Day 3 – Saudi Arabia produce shock for the ages as France show their strength
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE third day of the World Cup produced one of the greatest shocks in its history.
Saudi Arabia were around 22/1 to beat tournament favourites Argentina yesterday (for context, England are only 8/1 to win the whole thing!) and that price must have shot up when Lionel Messi calmly slotted away an early penalty given by VAR.
But the Saudis – whose 26 players all ply their trade in their own domestic league – fought back bravely and, with two wonder goals, secured a quick-fire turnaround and held on to cause one of the great World Cup upsets.
The celebrations in the dressing room were wild, and Saudi Arabia almost instantly declared today as a public holiday.
But where does the victory rank? Champions France's 2002 opener against newcomers Senegal ended in a stunning 1-0 win for the Africans, a result which continues to live in the memory.
Costa Rica beat Uruguay and Italy en route to topping a 2014 group they were expected to get nothing from, and South Africa beat 2006 finalists France in 2010 while 2006 champions Italy were defeated by Slovakia.
Looking further back, the USA stunned England in 1950 and, in 1954, there was 'Das Wunder von Bern' (The Miracle of Bern) – when West Germany beat Hungary 3-2 in the final, from two goals behind, despite having lost 8-3(!) to the Magical Magyars in the group stage.
Wherever this result ranks, it's almost certain to be the biggest shock of this year's tournament. Right...?
Probably. But Australia were perhaps starting to think otherwise when Craig Goodwin fired a team which contained four Scottish Premiership players ahead against reigning champions France in last night's match.
However, while the Aussies did themselves proud, they proved to be no match for Didier Deschamps' side in the end – with Olivier Giroud matching Thierry Henry's goal record for his country with his 50th and 51st for Les Blues en route to a 4-1 win.
The gulf in class was perhaps highlighted when France subbed on Kingsley Coman of Bayern Munich for a late cameo and Australia manager Graham Arnold brought on in-form St Mirren striker Keanu Baccus, who became the first Buddies player to play on the world's biggest stage.
The other two games yesterday ended goalless – but never lacked drama either. Denmark, perhaps dark horses, drew 0-0 with Tunisia, while Mexico and Poland drew.
For those of us who focus on European football, Guillermo Ochoa is a man only seen once every four years – but he's no doubt a goalkeeper who will live long in the memory as he always seems to take centre stage for Mexico.
He did so yet again yesterday, saving a penalty from Poland's Robert Lewandowski – who will be desperate to grab his first ever World Cup goal when his side take on Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
So that's half of the teams that have now played – leaving Germany, Spain and Brazil – perhaps new favourites after Argentina's shock loss – to show what they can do.
