Saudi Arabia’s shock win evokes Renard’s ‘luck’ white shirt memories

Saudi Arabia’s shock 2-1 win over Argentina has evoked memories of the minnows’ coach Herve Renard’s ‘luck’ white shirt.

The French coach stuck to his designer’s white shirt during his spells with Zambia and Ivory Coast and won the 2012 and 2015 AFCON titles.

On Tuesday, Renard also opted for his trademark untucked shirt during the Group C Fifa World Cup opener.

RENARD’S PARTLY UNBUTTONED SHIRT

The coach was seen on the touchline on Tuesday his partly unbuttoned shirt revealing his six-pack.

Little wonder, the BBC Africa TV sports presenter Mimi Fawaz focused on Herve’s shirt which seems to bring him luck.

“Herve Renard’s lucky white shirt has struck again making it Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina,” she tweeted on @Mimosa Fawaz.

“African football fans know him too well; he always wears in for good luck. Won it with Zambia and Cote D’Ivoire when they won Afcon with him.”

GAVIN HUNT QUESTIONS OWN PREDICTION

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt also posed a question to himself on whether his choice of Argentina as pre-tournament favourites was wrong.

“Should I question my winners now?” he tweeted.

In response to Hunt’s tweet, Mkhoto Tshedi said: “Still early days Boss!!!”

Shix Wale also reminded the former Bidvest wits mentor that “Spain also lost in the group stages and they went on to win the whole thing.”

MESSI HEART IN HIS HAND, SPIRIT BROKEN

Argentina leading newspaper La Nacion reacted to the defeat with a lead story featured a picture of a crest fallen skipper Lionel Messi.

“And now? Messi, with his heart in his hand, his legs drooping and his spirit broken,” the headline read.

The newspaper then went on to question how VAR disallowed Lutaro Martiez’s goal which seemed legitimate.

Argentina suffered the surprise defeat to the minnows despite having gone ahead barely 10 minutes into the contest.

Captain Messi buried the ball into the net from the penalty spot after Saudi Arabian player had committed a foul.

END OF 36-GAME UNBEATEN RUN

The defeat ended Argentina’s 36-game unbeaten run dating back to 2019.

The South American champions also had three of their efforts declined for offside before Saudi Arabia struck.

The minnows leveled matters early in the second half through Mohammed Al-Shehri before captain Shafi Al-Dawsari snatched the winner.

Saudi Arabia are the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament at position 51.

The two-time World Cup champions will now face Mexico on Saturday in a must-win encounter.

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