World Cup 2022

Round of 16, Match 2- ARG vs AUS 

Preview 

Australia and Argentina will continue the World Cup 2022 Round of 16 phases when they square off at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Sunday at 12:30 AM IST.

After coming out unscathed from the initial setback against Saudi Arabia, Lionel Scaloni's team contemplates a clear outlook until the semifinals. Along the way, smaller draft selections. First, Australia, with which it coincides for the first time in a World Championship. Then, the Netherlands or the United States, rivals within reach of the Albiceleste.

Without Ángel Di María, whom Scaloni will not want to force after suffering a contracture in the quadriceps of his left thigh, and with some youngsters determined to take a step forward for their country's team, Argentina will be calibrated by a minor rival who is among the sixteen finalists without having been taken into account.

There has not been time to assimilate the improvement in the World Cup. The team led by Leo Messi and company has gone from less to more, having had just over forty-eight hours to assimilate their next challenge.

Lionel Scaloni has shaken his eleven since he fell with Saudi Arabia. Although he was reluctant to move his starting team excessively, once consolidated, he had to reach out to the squad in search of solutions. He found them. Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister have established themselves and it is normal for them to return to form part of the midfield together with Rodrigo de Paul, one of the untouchables of the Albiceleste team as well as Leo Messi, Nicolás Otamendi, Di María himself until they injured, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

The coach's movements come in defense and doubt in the alternative to Di María in the attack. Scaloni has alternated the right side between Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel. Both have even had minutes in all games. He is also in the center of the rear to accompany Nicolás Otamendi. Or Cristian Romero or Lisandro Martínez. It is the Tottenham central defender who best suits the needs of the coach, although he was singled out in the clash against Arabia.

Without Di María, Leandro Paredes was the alternative against Poland to play the last half hour although a more daring approach opens the door for Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez who was a reserve in the last match although he had minutes in the end.

The duel at the Bin Ali stadium is an unprecedented clash in a World Cup. Although both teams have met seven times throughout history, none have been in the final phase of this tournament. Argentina won five of the duels. One ended in a draw and Australia prevailed in another, in the first.

Australia is through to the round of 16 for the second time in its history. Although it is contesting its fifth edition in a row, the sixth in total, it was only in Germany in 2006 that it managed to get past the group stage. It is the top of the oceanic team in the eighths, it has never gone further.

The selector Graham Arnold has barely made any changes throughout the games. He has always had ten regulars and the only doubts arise on the right side where a different footballer has played each game.

First Nathaniel Atkinson played but in the second game, it was Fran Karacic who occupied the left flank. And in the clash against Denmark, Arnold's bet was Milos Degenek.

"It will be a match of eleven against eleven. There are not eleven Messis, there is only one. I have always loved Messi and I think he is the best he has ever played. But it is not an honor to play against him because he is only a human being like him. we are all. It's an honor to be in the round of 16 of a World Cup. That's the honor itself," said the Columbus Crew defender.

Match Details

Match: Round of 16, Match 2- ARG vs AUS 

Date: 4 December 2022

Time: 12:30 AM 

Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

Key Players

ARG: Messi - The most decisive player on the team and the best in the world. Again, nothing more to add. Julian Álvarez - Scored the goal that made it 2-0 in the last game and can play anywhere in attack. He will be extreme in case Di María is not available due to physical discomfort.

AUS: Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan will be key here as the team will depend on attacking midfielder McGree. He will play a crucial role in tonight's match against Argentina.

Possible Starting XIs

ARG: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Acuña; Rodrigo de Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lautaro Martínez or Leandro Paredes, Leo Messi and Julián Álvarez.

AUS: Matthew Ryan; Milos Degenek, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich; Aaron Mooy; Riley McGree, Jackson Irvine; Matthew Leckie, Craig Goodwin, and Mitchel Duke

Match Prediction

Argentina will score at least twice and win it 2-0. Expect one goal from Messi. We say ARG 2-0 AUS.

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