WATCH: Lionel Messi arrives in Qatar with Argentina squad ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022

Lionel Messi (Source: Twitter)

Lionel Messi and Argentina squad have landed in Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 set to commence on Sunday (November 20). Argentina are placed in the Group C of the World Cup alonside Mexico, Robert Lewandowski's Poland and Saudi Arabia. Argentina will take on Saudi Arabia in their opener of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on November 22. Two-time world champions will enter the tournament as one of the favorites with a star-studded squad and 35-game unbeaten streak since the 2019 summer. They have won the 2021 Copa America and the 22 Finalissima against Italy.

Coming to their warm-up clash, Lionel Messi played the entire game in Argentina's final World Cup warmup and scored in a 5-0 rout of the United Arab Emirates as the pre-tournament favorites stretched their unbeaten run to 36 games. Messi scored his team's fourth goal right before the break, having also set up Julian Alvarez to open the scoring in the 17th minute. Angel di Maria scored twice in between. (Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal vs Nigeria FIFA World Cup 2022 Warm Up Match LIVE Streaming: When and Where to Watch POR vs NIG in India?)

Checkout the video of Messi and Argentina arriving in Qatar below...

 Lionel Messi arriving in Qatar with the Argentinian squad pic.twitter.com/ZuAH5uVyHm

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 17, 2022

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made four changes at halftime but opted against resting his star player, leaving Messi on for the full 90 minutes. Messi has now scored 10 goals in his last five appearances for Argentina and took his overall tally to 91 goals. 

"We're confident," midfielder Rodrigo De Paul said. "But for many it will their first World Cup so the first game will be very important."

FULLKRUG RESCUES GERMANY

Niclas Fullkrug scored on his Germany debut as the four-time World Cup champion earned a 1-0 win over Oman in Muscat. It was far from a convincing performance from Germany, which looked susceptible in defense and prone to mistakes. But Fullkrug's introduction for the second half brought a new dimension to an attack that had failed to spark in the first half. Youssoufa Moukoko struck the post on his Germany debut right before the break, which as close as the visitors got in the first half.

The 17-year-old Moukoko was Germany's youngest debutant since Uwe Seeler, who was younger by 16 days in 1954. Moukoko then made way at the break for Fullkrug. The 29-year-old forward almost scored early in the second half only to be denied by a good save from the impressive Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini. Germany remained vulnerable at the back but Oman substitute Muhsen Al-Ghassani somehow missed with the goal at his mercy in the 72nd. The hosts were to rue the miss when Kai Havertz set up Fullkrug to score what proved the winner in the 80th. Germany faces Japan, Spain and Costa Rice in Group E.

LEWANDOWSKI LEFT OUT

Robert Lewandowski watched from the bench as Poland edged Chile 1-0 in a bruising encounter thanks to a late goal from Krzysztof Piatek in Warsaw. Lewandowski didn't play but will likely start Poland's tournament-opening game against Mexico on Nov. 22. Mexico lost its final warmup game 2-1 to Sweden in Girona, Spain.

CROATIA BEATS SAUDI ARABIA

Andrej Kramaric's late goal was enough for Croatia to beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Riyadh. Croatia star Luka Modric played only the last 25 minutes, enough to set up Kramaric for the winner in the 82nd. Kramaric still had to elude five Saudi defenders before scoring his 20th international goal inside the far post. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic began with an unfamiliar lineup and gradually brought on his established players. Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, Hoffenheim forward Kramaric, Tottenham midfielder Ivan Peri?ic and Real Madrid's Modric all came on in the second half. (With PTI inputs)