Key posts
Leckie: one per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration
By Greg Baum
Australia trail the rest of the last 16 in the World Cup in more statistical categories than is worth counting. It would only add another stat anyway.
But they know they’d be No. 1 in the only category that matters to them. It’s not stepovers or bicycle-kick goals. It’s ergometry.
Mathew Leckie shoots and scores.Credit:Getty Images
Winger Mathew Leckie carved out a place in Australian soccer’s hall of fame with his exquisite winning goal against Denmark, but what is more important to him is that he has run more than 30 kilometres across three games, and faster than any of his teammates. As a winger, it’s his remit.
But even he defers to midfielder Jackson Irvine. “Jacko’s run about 12.6 [against Denmark]. It was just crazy,” Leckie said. “Every single player out there gave everything.”
Poll: Did you sleep last night?
‘Work hard, shock the world’: Arnold says Socceroos are ready
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold spoke to SBS pre-game.
The biggest game in Australian football since 2006, how are you and the boys feeling?
Yeah, we feel great. Already it’s a great atmosphere out there, and it’s a great opportunity for the players. We’re just looking forward to the game.
Graham Arnold.Credit:AP
Just one change Keanu Baccus coming in for Craig Goodwin.
I thought Keanu did very well. The boys have recovered fantastically. Their energy has been great. We’ve built a lot of belief in the starting XI. We continue on.
A fourth game in 12 days, can you make more changes or do you feel this team has done well as a unit?
It’s the same for the opposition. You can’t say that just one way. You know, our boys are mentally in a good space, that’s the most important thing, we have happy memories at this place.
Five months ago this is where the team qualified. Can you create a special moment here tonight?
That’s the whole meaning. We’re prepared well. We’re ready to go out on the park. There’s great memories here from the Peru game. Overall, we have a lot of good memories here in Qatar. We’ve played eight games, won seven, we’re looking forward to continuing that
Your final message to the boys tonight?
Go out there and give it everything you’ve got. Leave everything on the pitch. I truly believe that if we do that, we have a great chance of shocking the world.
Millions are waking up in Australia, they’re going to be watching at home or live sites in every state, what is your message to the Australians watching at home?
We just appreciate their support and it’s great to see that the Socceroos have reunited the nation and it’s just great to see this.
Fed Square at capacity in Melbourne
By Roy Ward
Melbourne fans are out in force to watch the Socceroos v Argentina game with Fed Square in the centre of the CBD already at capacity, which is about 10,000 people.
The Fed Square official Twitter account has asked people to head to AAMI Park which has a capacity of just under 30,000 people.
Here is where you can watch the game in Melbourne and where you can watch it in Sydney.
Kickoff is at 6am AEDT.
The knockout stages – how it looks
McGree could move to wide role, Baccus to midfield
By Vince Rugari
One change for the Socceroos: Craig Goodwin is out, Keanu Baccus is in for his maiden start for Australia, which means we’ll probably see the same shape that Graham Arnold used in the second half against Denmark, with Riley McGree out wide and Baccus in midfield.
It’s a big vote of confidence in Baccus who has come off the bench in all three group games and looked fantastic, particularly in the last one with a jinking run down the flank (imprinted in my brain ever since) which relieved pressure at a time when his teammates desperately needed it.
Keanu Baccus.Credit:Getty
Don’t mind it personally; at this point, Arnie can do what he likes. Everyone else who started against the Danes will get another run, and presumably, the sports science staff has ticked off on their condition, but the proof will be in the pudding.
As for Argentina, only one change for them too – Juventus star Angel di Maria, who was under a fitness cloud over the last few days, is on the bench.
Sevilla’s Papu Gomez comes in for his first minutes of the tournament since a 64-minute spell in their opening loss to Saudi Arabia.
It’s a quality XI but nothing that the Socceroos should be afraid of based on what we’ve seen so far in Qatar, so long as they can keep that same energy that got them here.
By the way, the Andrew Redmayne Memorial End – where the ‘Grey Wiggle’ danced his way into the Peruvian national psyche in June – is to the left of your screens.
Arnold trades forward for midfielder
The Socceroos have named their starting side with Scotland-based midfielder Keanu Baccus coming into the starting side ahead of winger Craig Goodwin who was showing some signs of fatigue last game.
Baccus has played just 61 minutes of international football but was exceptional off the bench against Denmark.
It’s 11 versus 11, coaches say, ahead of Australia’s game against Argentina
By Greg Baum
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 their 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.
Good morning
G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward here and I’ll be leading the way as we follow the Socceroos round of 16 clash with Argentina at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Kickoff is at 6am AEDT and we will follow this game from start to finish and then all the post-game reactions while we also have reporters at select live spots to give us a taste of the emotions during the match.
Please feel free to leave a comment on the blog at any time and enjoy the hours to come.
