Arnie’s final thoughts
Graham Arnold is hoping Messi gets a cut of the shirt sales in Beijing because he feels like he’s in Buenos Aires. I don’t think he needs the money.
Due to a lack of wingers with injuries the Socceroos will play a 4-2-2-2 with Riley McGree and Mat Leckie coming inside. There’s another mention of that elusive “Aussie DNA”.
“Be brave to play. We’re on the big stage against the world champions. Let’s show everyone what we’ve got. When we’ve got the ball it’s the most important time. That we don’t turn it over and keep possession.”
This crowd is decidedly blue and white
Fans use their mobile phones to take photos prior to the start of the friendly soccer match between Argentina and Australia at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.Credit: AP
Alex Robertson is feeling a little conflicted
If you haven’t read Vince Rugari’s piece this week it’s worth a quick gander before we get going. Robertson may well get game time tonight, and it would be sweet for him too given he watched his Manchester City teammates seal a rare European treble from a hotel bed in Beijing.
It’s been a bit hot in Beijing
The mercury has hovered in the mid-30s for much of the day and I can tell you from experience it is HUMID. But the temperature has cooled somewhat in time for the 8pm local time kick-off. The players are in the tunnel now.
Socceroos pay tribute to Rale Rasic
The man who coached the Socceroos to their first World Cup in 1974 died last week. Here is a small snippet of the achievements of a giant of Australian football.
Argentina’s line-up
It’s not too far off that which played Australia last time, with Nico Gonzalez and Angel Di Maria in for Julian Alvarez and Papu Gomez.
The teams
Graham Arnold has made four changes to the team which faced Argentina in Qatar, fielding a more youthful starting XI featuring Jordan Bos (debut start), Jamie Maclaren, Aiden O’Neill and Nathaniel Atkinson. Missing this one are erstwhile midfielder Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy, Aaron Mooy and Aziz Behich, the latter who played a slaloming role last December.
Messi mania
They are going mad for Lionel in China this week. He was mobbed at Beijing airport, and perhaps understandably given it may be the last time the new Miami signing will play here. The Argentine now has a century for his country thanks to his goals against Panama and Curacao in March and may well have more in him this time (just as he did against Australia in Doha).
Good evening to you all
And a warmest welcome to this our live coverage of the rematch. The Socceroos against Argentina. The first encounter since Emi Martinez stretched out one of this gadget arms to ensure Garang Kuol did not send the eventual World Cup champions to extra-time in the round of 16 in Qatar. This is a friendly. It is also a grudge match. And it is happening in … Beijing.
