Argentina faces Australia in search of place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup

The match between Argentina and Australia is the highlight of the first day of games in the Round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar. Lionel Messi’s team takes to the lawn of Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium at 4 pm (Brasília time) this Saturday (3).

The Argentines arrive motivated for the confrontation, after a convincing 2-0 victory over Poland that earned them the leadership of Group C. But Lionel Scaloni’s team may have a big embezzlement, the attacking midfielder Di María, who has become a doubt after complaining of pain.

#SelecciónMayor Last training session before facing the #Australia ??.

morning, #All together ??

?? https://t.co/4ngYAxRISv pic.twitter.com/LgkCY32VJF

— Argentine national team ?? (@Argentina) December 2, 2022

In a press conference last Friday (2), the commander of the Argentine national team stated that he does not expect facilities against Australia: “It does not surprise me that Australia is in the round of 16. They are a good team, they had a good qualifying campaign, they didn’t manage to qualify directly for the Cup, they did it in the play-offs. They have a tradition of World Cups and that makes them difficult.”

Australia’s coach, Graham Arnold, promised that he will fight hard against Argentina in search of a place in the quarterfinals: “Without disrespecting Argentina or anything, but it’s 11 against 11, and there are 10 blue shirts against 10 yellow ones. It will be a battle.”

Argentina awaits ⏳??

?? v ?? 12.4.22, 6am AEDT
???: SBS, SBS On Demand#Socceroos #GiveIt100 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/UrWURSetii

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) December 2, 2022

But the round of 16 of the World Cup will open earlier, starting at 12:00, when the Netherlands will face the United States at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Despite not presenting a showy football in the group stage, Laranja Mecânica has the second best campaign in the competition, with 7 points and a positive balance of 4 goals (the best campaign is England, with 7 points and a balance of 7 goals).

Focus mode ?#WorldCup #NEDUSA pic.twitter.com/Ng43ObWWIc

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) December 2, 2022

And the Netherlands coach, Louis Van Gaal, made it clear that his team will need to play better than it has done so far to overcome a team that is having a good World Cup in Qatar: “The USA demonstrated that they have an excellent team, I would even say one of the best teams, a team that is in tune, [mas] It’s nothing we can’t overcome.”

However, the American team is still waiting to know whether or not it can count on its technical leader, striker Christian Pulisic. The Chelsea player (England) suffered a pelvic injury in the victory over Iran last Tuesday (29) and coach Gregg Berhalter’s expectation is that he will enter the field against the Dutch: “It looks very good [o Pulisic]but we will have to see him on the field today to have confirmation of that”.

Racing into the Round of 16 ? pic.twitter.com/jYy7Hc4B1S

—US Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) December 2, 2022