UAE 0-5 Argentina Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2022 warm-up: Messi scores and assists, Di Maria scores twice

Welcome to the live blog of the FIFA World Cup 2022 warm-up game between Argentina and United Arab Emirates being played at the Al-Jazira Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, left, and Angel Di Maria celebrate after a goal during a friendly match between Argentina and United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. | Photo Credit: AP

Post match comments:

“We are confident, for many it is the first World Cup and the first game will be very important. We arrived well at the World Cup. It was a good test, it was important that they don’t convert our mistakes to goals.”

- Rodrigo de Paul, Argentina midfielder said after the match.

Full Time! Argentina completes a five-star performance before the FIFA World Cup 2022

Two goals from Angel de Maria and one each from Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez and Joaquin Correa saw Argentina complete a 5-0 win over United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

🏆 #SelecciónMayor - Amistoso

⚽ @Argentina 🇦🇷 5 (Julián Álvarez, Ángel Di María x2, Lionel #Messi y Joaquín Correa) 🆚 Emiratos Árabes Unidos 🇦🇪 0

👉 ¡Final del partido!

🔜 El próximo martes será el debut de la Albiceleste en #Qatar2022. ¡Vamos #TodosJuntos! pic.twitter.com/LUaepes5ho

— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 16, 2022

86’

Foul! Foyth pulls back Hussain and the referee rules for a free-kick in favour of UAE, in its own half. This will be the fourth win in a row for the United Arab Emirates, while Argentina will look to carry on its form in Qatar.

84’

Argentina looking to finish the game with ease, having scored five goals in what will be a very good morale booster before its FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar, from next week.

81’

Double save by Argentina! UAE catches Argentina napping with a counter attack and Hussain gets the ball in the final third, he delays his shot and passes to Ciao, whose shot is saved on the goal-line by Lisandro Martinez.

Chance for Argentina!

Lionel Messi tries a left-footed curler which whizzes past the target and Argentina fails to further build on its convincing lead.

77’

Yellow Card! Majid Al Mehrzi gets a booking for a rasther rash challenge on Joaquin Correa after getting the ball. Free kick for Argentina as Messi steps up for it.

75’

Change for Argentina! In: Guido Rodrigues, Out: Leandro Paredes

73’

Hardly 15 minutes of regulation time left as Argentina looks to shut shop with a comfortable win. Montil tries to get to a long ball from the midfield, but Aldhanhani gets to it first to give Argentina a corner kick.

71’

Argentina goes in attack this time, with Molina carrying the ball close to the UAE box, passes to Messi on his right and the PSG forward tries a left-footed curler that flies off target.

69’ Chance for UAE!

The hosts gets into the final third and Jameel crosses for Ciao, whose deflection is just off-target.

68’

Rodrigo delivers a long ball f Molina, but Rashid gets to it first, beating Molina to steer it out of danger in what has been a one-sided affair so far.

65’

Argentinna enjoying possession in the middle of the park as it tries to start an attack from scratch. Meanwhile, UAE makes two changes, replacing Abdulla Hamad and Alhussein Salah with Majid Rashid and Ahmed Jamil.

62’

Chance! Aldhanhani beats Molina with a brilliant dribble and shoots. But his shot is just over the target as UAE misses another chance to try and pull a goal back.

60’ GOAL! Correa makes it five for Argentina

Rodrigo de Paul draws defenders towards him and releases Correa, then passes to Correa who scores the fifth goal for Argentina.

57’

Yellow Card! Ciao is fouled by Lisandro Martinez, who fails to get the ball and is booked - the first booking of the match so far.

56’

Argentina has four blue shirts securing the back and gives a testimony of its attention with an important interception following a through ball by UAE.

53’

Chance for Argentina! Messi delivers a key pass for Molina, but he fails to connect well as Eisa gets to the ball finally, to catch it and stop that attack.

Argentina testing its squad depth before Qatar 2022!

Argentina, with a comfortable lead, looks to test its squad depth with more substitutions. Enzo Fernandez replaces goal scorer Julian Alvarez, Joaquin Correa replaces Marcos Acuna and Nicolas Otamendi replaces German Pezzella.

49’

Chance for UAE! Suhail tries a shot from distance, which hits the goalpost and Ramadan tries another within seconds forcing Emiliano Martinez to make a good save.

Second Half begins!

Argentina makes two changes replacing Do Maria and Mac Allister for Montiel and Molina as Scaloni tests his team’s bench strength before the World Cup.

Half-Time! Argentina stops for a breather at the half-way mark.

Two goals form Angel Di Maria and one each from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez keeps Lionel Scaloni’s side head and shoulders above its opponent at the midway, in Abu Dhabi.

44’ GOAL! Messi scores Argentina’s fourth

Messi is surrounded by white shirts and the forward chooses to go for attack himself, dribbles past two players and shoots into the net for his first of the night.

41’

UAE has almost its entire team in its box, laying deep and trying to stop the bleeding. However, Argentina, with back passes is looking to draw its opponent out for another attempt up the pitch.

40’

Argentina has continues creating attacking chances in the UAE box, while the hosts have not been able to have one shot on target so far.

36’ GOAL! Di Maria scores a brace and Argentina has its third of the night

Di Maria gets the ball from Mac Allister, beats his marker and then the goal keeper to score his second of the night as Argentina gets its third.

28’

Argentina almost goes ahead to score another as Messi dribbles past two UAE defenders, however, he is surrounded by white shirts as the ball moves away from him to stop that attack.

25’ GOAL! Di Maria doubles the lead

Acuna carries the ball along the left flank, crosses for Di Maria who shoots on the volley with his left-foot and Argentina goes 2-0 eight minutes after the first goal.

22’

Argentina is marching forward after the opening goal with Messi creating another chance shortly with Di Maria failing to connect in front of the opposition goalkeeper.

17’ GOAL! Alvarez scores to put Argentina ahead

Argentina attacks on the counter with Messi carrying the ball into the box, looks up and crosses for Julian ALvarez, who shoots into the net to give the visitors an early lead.

🏆 #SelecciónMayor - Amistoso

⚽ @Argentina 🇦🇷 4 (Julián Álvarez, Ángel Di María x2 y Lionel #Messi) 🆚 Emiratos Árabes Unidos 🇦🇪 0

⏱ 10' ST pic.twitter.com/t60j0g6PgN

— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 16, 2022

14’

Rodrigo has been the midfield lynchpin for Argentina so far as he continues to delivers long balls and Acuna makes run along the flanks. But UAE, has managed to keep them quite so far.

11’

Chance! Rodrigo delivers a gorgeous pass into the penalty box for Messi, who reaches to it, but fails to get proper force on the shot. Eisa gets to the ball finally to calm his team and the stadium down.

8’

Chance! Argentina attacks on the counter after a corner kick for UAE and Messi is away with the ball in the left flank. The raucous crowd cheers loudly as he crosses for Alvarez, who fails to get to the box on time and Argentina fails to exploit the attack.

6’

Foul! Argentina is pressing high up the itch and Mac Allister fouls Ramadan from behind in the UAE half as the hosts geta free-kick, to get back possession and try and start again

4’

Acuna manages to sneak in along the left flank, beats his marker and crosses for Rodrigo, who tries a shot from distance. However, no real threat from that as the ball rolls off target.

3’

Argentina is looking for spaces along the flanks as Acuna and Lisandro make runs in the empty spaces in the final third, but three white shirts stay put to deny an attacking chance for Scaloni’s men.

Kick-Off! We are underway in Abu Dhabi

The FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and UAE is underway in Abu Dhabi. Argentina, in blue, starts from the left to right, while UAE, in what, starts from the other side.

National Anthems done and dusted. Match time now!

As the National Anthems finish for Argentina first and then UAE, the players pose for team photos amid a stadium filled with shirts of white and blue. We are ready for what promises to be the last dance before the World Cup for Messi and company.

Minutes to kick-off!

The players are out in the field and flags of Argentina are clearly visible with fans of Messi and the Albiceleste filling in seats in the friendly fixture. UAE, having lost four of its last five game, will look to stun the world as it looks to cause a major upset before the World Cup.

A counter-attacking formation for Argentina

The Albiceleste starts with a 4-3-3 formation , while United Arab Emirates starts with a 4-2-3-1 formation .The front three for Argentina has Di Maria, Alvarez and Lionel Messi as it looks to make its intentions clear before the World Cup.

8:45 pm: With 15 minutes left to kick-off, you can enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2022 quiz and check how much you know about the tournament as it begins in a matter of days from today.

Take quiz: FIFA World Cup Quiz IX: Ultimate football quiz before Qatar 2022

8:35 pm: Starting Lineups out!

UAE: Khalid Eisa, Khaled Aldhanhani, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Abdalla Ramadan, Abdulla Hamad, Ali Salmeen, Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, Ali Saleh, Caio, Harib Suhail

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Juan Foyth, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Otamendi, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Daniel Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di Maria, Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi

With the FIFA World Cup set to begin on November 20, 2022, the last round of international friendlies will see the participating teams get necessary practice before Qatar 2022.

Lionel Messi, arriving in Qatar after a 5-0 win with Paris Saint-Germain is expected to be in action as Argentina plays the United Arab Emirates at the Al-Jazira Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

European powerhouse Germany will be in action against Oman while the runner-up of the last edition of the World Cup, Croatia, will play Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.

Which teams will be in action on November 16, 2022?

Eight of the 32 nations in the FIFA World Cup will be in action in friendlies tomorrow, with two World Cup winners – Germany and Argentina – among them.

Here is the list for the friendly matches:

• Iran vs Tunisia
• Saudi Arabia vs Croatia
• United Arab Emirates vs Argentina
• Poland vs Chile
• Oman vs Germany
• Mexico vs Sweden

Where will the matches be played?

Iran vs Tunisia – Doha, Qatar

Saudi Arabia vs Croatia – King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh

United Arab Emirates vs Argentina – Al-Jazira Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, UAE

Poland vs Chile – Stadion Miejski Legii Warszawa, Poland

Oman vs Germany – Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Oman

Mexico vs Sweden – Estadi Montilivi, Spain

When are the friendly matches?

IRN vs TUN – 6:30 pm

KSA vs CRO – 5:30 pm

UAE vs ARG – 9:00 pm

POL vs CHI – 10:30 pm

OMAN vs GER – 10:30 pm

MEX vs SWE – 1:00 am (Nov. 17)

Where to watch the matches?

Unfortunately, the friendly matches will not be telecast live or streamed in India. However, the matches can be followed on Sportstar, through live blogs.