After a disappointing start erased with a positive reaction, Argentina faces with renewed spirits and as a clear favorite their duel in the round of 16 of the World Cup Qatar-2022 against the surprising Australia, this Saturday (4:00 p.m.) in Doha.
The bump in the debut against Saudi Arabia (2-1 defeat) made it difficult for Albiceleste, who showed they knew how to resist the pressure in their subsequent duels by winning 2-0 against Mexico and Poland, with which they were able to fulfill their goal of finishing first. group and thus avoid an explosive duel in the round of 16 against the world champion France.
maybe a Argentina-Australia in rugby it seems more level, but in soccer, due to the history and potential of its players, the South American team seems to be a clear favourite.
In the FIFA ranking, the ‘Scaloneta’ at number 3 and the ‘aussies’ are at 38, but after the recent Saudi experience no room for overconfidence.
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“We have been watching all the World Cup matches. We watched Australia matches. Everything is very difficult today and whoever the opponent is is complicated, we live it firsthand (against Saudi Arabia), which anyone can match you and win“, warning Lionel Messi after the last victory against the Poles.
Messi they failed to score against Poland, even missing a penalty, after having scored a goal in each of the other first phase games.
In total, the star of Paris Saint-Germain accumulates eight goals in World Cups and follows two of the record of an Argentine in this competition, the 10 that he achieved Gabriel Batistuta.
The main doubt seems to be the physical condition of another of Argentina’s attacking men, angel di mariawho was changed in the last game with a muscular problem.
Julian Alvarezstarter and scorer in the last game, and Lautaro Martinez They also aspire to be at the top of the starting eleven for Argentina.
– Physical wear –
In front of them will be a Australia without big stars and who already equaled their best historical performance in a World Cup, the round of 16 in Germany-2006, when they were led by the Dutch Guus Hiddink. So they made Italy suffer a lot before being eliminated and they aspire to do the same against Argentina.
“It is an irreproachable team. I have always liked Messi, I think he is the greatest to have played football, ”he declared on Thursday. Milos Degenekone of the defenders in charge of stopping Messi and company on the pitch of the ahmed bin ali stadium from the Qatari capital.
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Australia was, along with Morocco, the main surprise of the first phase of Qatar-2022.
On the first day, the Australians were thrashed 4-1 by France and they were left in a very complicated situation, from which they left beating Tunisia and Denmark 1-0that last semifinalist last year in the Eurocup.
Both Argentina and Australia They will also have the obstacle of having to play on Saturday after having done so on Wednesday at the end of their groups, with short recovery time.
“It seems crazy to me to play in two days and little when we are first in the group. The conditions for it to be like this are not given, we are first in the group and we could have had more rest”, complained the Argentine coach, lionel scalonijust after sealing the classification.
Scaloni, the man who has returned the illusion to the Argentine fans with the titles in the Copa América in 2021 and in the Finalissima in this 2022, lived in the previous edition the elimination in the round of 16, falling 4-3 against France. He was then assistant coach Jorge Sampaoli, whom he replaced after the tournament and whose World Cup record may now improve if he reaches the quarterfinals.
