The coaches of Australia and Argentina used an identical expression to characterise their World Cup round of 16 match that will hold both countries in the thrall on Saturday night: it’s 11 versus 11.
You had to listen for the inflections. Australia’s Graham Arnold meant it was only 11 Argentines, big names, yes, but flesh and blood like his team. Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni meant it was all 11 Australians, a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Lionel Messi is likely playing in his last World Cup.Credit:AP
“Overall, they work as a team,” Scaloni said. “When you face a team, it’s always difficult. In football, nothing is certain. That’s the reality. So you have to put the idea of favourites to one side.”
Both teams have recovered from first-up defeats – a shock for Argentina against Saudi Arabia, shocking for Australia against France – but that’s about where the parallels end. They’re Argentina, we’re Australia, remember.
Arnold even claimed that his Socceroos had been named the “invincible underdogs”. It’s not clear by whom; it hasn’t been registered with any titles office yet, or Google’s algorithms. But it’s an insight into the bullish mood in the Australian camp.
Harry Souttar slides in for another tackle against Denmark’s Kasper Dolberg.Credit:AP
Arnold, remembering Australia’s respectable record against Argentina in his playing days and a 2-0 win at last year’s Tokyo Olympics where he was also coach, welcomed the prospect of playing them.
“For me, it’s a big one percenter to be playing against them,” he said, “because they bring the best out of us.”
Arnold said one less day’s turnaround than between group games also suited him. “I do believe the short turnaround is an advantage for us because …. we don’t sit for five days wondering about and thinking about the opposition,” he said.
For Argentina, the turnaround was even shorter than it seems. Their last group game was at 10pm and they did not get to bed until around 4am, effectively conceding to the Australians an extra night’s sleep.
“That has an impact, particularly when the next match is a little over 48 hours later,” Scaloni said.
Lest you think Arnold was altogether too cavalier, he warned about why Argentina – ranked No. 3 in the world to set against Australia’s No. 38 – so dangerous.
“The brain needs to be switched on, not for 90 minutes, 120 minutes, and it’s going to be switched on for every second of that 120 minutes,” Arnold said. “That’s because they play in two ways. Slow to try to make you relax, then when you do relax, that’s when they hit you. We’ve got to make sure we’re on the whole time.”
Riley McGree attempts a spectacular shot on goal in Australia’s win over Argentina at the Tokyo Olympics.Credit:AP
At the top of the watch list, of course, is Lionel Messi. Marshalling him will be the business of towering Harry Souttar, a revelation on this tournament.
“Obviously, we respect the player massively,” Souttar said. “But I don’t think it’s just an individual thing. I think it’s got to be a team collective. We’ve got to be on our game 100 per cent. We’ve got to be switched on at all times and alert to every situation. I don’t think it can come down to just one individual to stop him.
“I think [for] my generation, there’s pretty obviously been two standout players. And then it’s gonna be a long time until we see the likes of them again. But I think for 90 minutes or however long it takes, you just gonna have to get on the player.” Not once did Souttar utter Messi’s name.
Lionel Messi is likely playing in his last World Cup.Credit:Getty
Argentina will have one other advantage, noted matter-of-factly by star midfielder Rodrigo de Paul: possession. The stats will show this vividly. It’s like an agreed set of facts in a court case.
Souttar’s Australian adventure coincided with the start of what became a long and gruelling qualifying campaign four years ago. He and Arnold said that even as the results waxed and waned, all the while strength was building.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold exults.Credit:Getty Images
“I think if you told me four years ago that I would be in this position. I probably would have believed you,” he said, “because we had so much belief in ourselves and we knew what we could do as a squad and as a team.”
Arnold spun it another way. “COVID helped unite this team together and unite the culture, the family culture, the mateship,” he said, “because these boys were in lockdown in hotels, so couldn’t get off the floor they’re on.
“They had to socialise with each other playing pool or table tennis, whatever. And that really united the players as a family environment.”
Australia played more qualifying matches in Qatar than in Australia, and lost only one. Now that’s coming back to benefit them.
Having united the nation and put a smile on its face as pledged, what more could these most surprising Socceroos hope to achieve? “We haven’t finished yet,” Arnold said. “That’s the most important thing. We’re turning up to win another game tomorrow.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
