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Saudi Arabia have nothing to be ashamed about after being eliminated from the World Cup following a 2-1 loss to Mexico on Wednesday.
The second-lowest ranked team in the tournament at No. 51 – one spot behind host Qatar – and ahead of only 61st-ranked Ghana, Saudi Arabia was competitive from start to finish at the first World Cup in the Middle East.
The Saudis opened with a surprising 2–1 victory over Argentina and also played solidly in a 2–0 loss to Poland before conceding two second-half goals to Mexico to finish last in Group C.
Salem Al-Dawsari, the team's star No. 10, pulled a goal back in stoppage time, before the Saudi players bent over on the field at the final whistle in prayer and then stood up to applaud their fans.
Strong goalkeeping from Mohammed Alowais prevented Mexico from scoring another goal – which could have sent the South Americans through to the round of 16. Instead, it was Argentina and Poland who advanced in the most wide-open group of the tournament.
Mexico's exit on goal difference ended a run of seven successive last-16 appearances at the World Cup. El Tri scored twice in five minutes in their thrilling last-ditch effort to stay in the World Cup.
In a simultaneous game, Poland and Argentina faced off. The match saw a Lionel Messi penalty saved, but Alexis Mac Allister's 46th-minute goal settled Argentina's nerves after a tense first half.
Julian Alvarez then doubled their lead just over 20 minutes later.
Poland offered little attacking threat, with star striker Robert Lewandowski virtually anonymous throughout. Instead it was left to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny to take centre stage for the Poles, denying Messi with two crucial early stops.
Defending champions France won their World Cup group despite losing to Tunisia 1-0 Wednesday.
Wahbi Khazri scored in the 58th minute to give the Tunisians the victory, but it wasn't enough to get them into the round of 16. Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in other Group D game and finished second on goal difference.
Khazri ran at the heart of the French defence and beat two players before poking the ball into the bottom corner. It was Tunisia's third victory at a World Cup.
France forward Antoine Griezmann thought he had evened the score in the eighth minute of stoppage time but he was ruled offside following a video review.
Australia beat Denmark 1-0 to reach the last 16 of the World Cup for the second time in their history on Tuesday.
A 60th-minute goal from Mathew Leckie secured a battling win for Australia, who advanced to the knockout rounds after finishing second in Group D behind France.
(AFP, AP, Reuters)