World Cup Group C: Team news, how they got there and prediction for Messi's 2022 opener

Lionel Messi's final World Cup starts with a match against Saudi Arabia in Lusail. The match is 26 days before the final, which takes place in the same venue. Messi won his first international trophy at the Copa America last year.

Argentina finished as runners-up in the Conmebol qualifying group. They had a record of 11 wins, six draws and no defeats. Their game with Brazil was suspended shortly after kick off last year because of health officials' suspicions that four of their players had broken Covid protocols. The game was eventually cancelled.

Saudi Arabia qualified for Qatar with flying colours. They received a bye through the initial phase of Asian qualifying. Saudi Arabia topped a group featuring Uzbekistan, Palestine, Singapore and Yemen.

Argentina are going into the World Cup on a 36-game unbeaten run. Their last defeat came in the Copa America 2019 semi-finals against Brazil. Since then they have qualified for the tournament unbeaten and won Copas America and Finalissima. In their final pre-World Cup friendly they beat the United Arab Emirates 5-0.

Renard's team lost 1-0 to Croatia in their final pre-World Cup friendly.

The team from Group C is preparing for the World Cup 2022.

Lionel Scaloni has managed Argentina since 2018. He guided them to their first trophy in 28 years. Argentina will play in the Copa America 2021.

Herve Renard will take over as Saudi Arabia manager in 2019. Renards has won Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and Ivory Coast and managed Morocco, Sochaux and Lille in Ligue 1.

Lionel Messi is aiming to win the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Messi lost the final to Germany in 2014. PSG star has scored 12 goals and assisted a further 14 in 19 appearances this season.

Salem Al-Dawsari is set to be Saudi Arabia's talisman at this winter's World Cup finals in Qatar. He scored the winner against Egypt during the group stage in 2018. Al Dawsara has played almost the entirety of his career at Al Hilal, winning the Asian Champions League twice.

ITV1 will broadcast the match with a 10am kick-off on Tuesday. There will also be a live stream on ITV Hub.

Argentina are the favourites to win the 2022 World Cup. Saudi Arabia will be organised and resolute in their attempts to keep them out.