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Lionel Messi<\/a> said Argentina’s shock loss to Saudi Arabia was a “very heavy blow” but vowed the South American champions would bounce back from the defeat. “It’s a very heavy blow, a defeat that hurts, but we must continue to have confidence in ourselves,” Messi said after Argentina crashed to a stunning 2-1 loss in Group C.\u00a0 “This group is not going to give up. We will try to beat Mexico,” he added.<\/p>\n Messi gave Argentina a 10th-minute lead from the penalty spot on Tuesday at the Lusail stadium but second-half goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari<\/a> helped the Saudis pull off one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history.<\/p>\n It could have been so different but for three tight offside calls in the first half that went against Argentina, denying them three potential goals.<\/p>\n In the second half, coach Lionel Scaloni’s men failed to exploit the Saudis’ high defensive line in the way they had managed before the break.<\/p>\n “We know that Saudi Arabia is a team with good players, who move the ball around well and play a high line,” said Messi.<\/p>\n Sponsored by Vuukle<\/span><\/p>\n “We worked on that but we rushed it a bit. There are no excuses, we’re going to be more united than ever before.<\/p>\n “This group is strong and has shown it before. We had not been in this situation for a long time. Now we must show that this is a true group.”<\/p>\n The Albiceleste have two Group C games remaining — against Mexico on Saturday and then Poland the following Wednesday — to try to salvage their hopes of claiming a third world title.<\/p>\n Playing in his fifth and probably final World Cup, Messi has the weight of an entire nation’s expectations on his shoulders.<\/p>\n One of the greatest players of all time, this may be his last chance to lift football’s greatest prize, which his predecessor as Argentina’s idol Diego<\/a> Maradona did in 1986.<\/p>\n “We have to go back to the basics of who we are. We have to think about what’s coming next,” said the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.<\/p>\n (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)<\/i><\/p>\nFeatured Video Of The Day<\/h3>\n