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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

World Cup 2022: Why Argentina defeat to Saudi Arabia is bad news for England

England face the prospect of Argentina being on their side of the World Cup knockout draw after the South Americans suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia.

Argentina were beaten 2-1 by Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, meaning they face a fight to finish top of Group C - which also contains Poland and Mexico.

That could be bad news for England who, after beating Iran 6-2 on Monday afternoon, have their sights set on topping Group B.

That would setup a showdown with the runners-up of Group A (most likely Ecuador or the Netherlands) in the last-16 and, if England win that tie, they would face either the winner of Group D or the second-placed team from Group C in the quarter-finals.

Argentina could well be that Group C side after they suffered a surprise loss to Saudi Arabia, despite Lionel Messi opening the scoring and finding the net at possibly his last ever World Cup.

The winners of Group D are tipped to be current holders France and that would setup the mouth-watering prospect of them facing Argentina in the last-16.

England, should they make it that far, would then face the winner of that game in the quarter-finals on December 10.

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