Australia바카라s players speak in glowing, almost reverential terms about Lionel Messi. (More Football News)
바카라He just does things that, you know, no one else can do,바카라 forward Mathew Leckie said. Milos Degenek went even further. 바카라Probably,바카라 the Socceroos defender said, 바카라the best footballer ever to grace the game.바카라
Imagine, then, how they바카라ll be feeling on Saturday when they share the same field as Messi and his Argentina team in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
These are pinch-yourself times for a group of unheralded players who were expected to be on their way home by this stage of the tournament. Yet here they are in Doha, looking to cause the latest upset in a World Cup that has been full of them 바카라 right from the moment Saudi Arabia shocked Argentina in perhaps the most unlikely win in the tournament바카라s 92-year history.
That set the tone for the past two weeks, during which Japan has beaten both Germany and Spain, Morocco has defeated Belgium, Tunisia has beaten France and, let바카라s not forget, Australia has stunned Denmark.
The Australians want to add to that list.
바카라No one expects us to win,바카라 Leckie said. 바카라So let바카라s shock the world.바카라
Don바카라t expect any complacency among the Argentina squad, though. Not after what transpired against Saudi Arabia during the group stage.
바카라We know, at the moment, everything is very difficult,바카라 said Messi, who is bidding to win the World Cup in his fifth and likely last attempt. 바카라All the opponents are complicated. We know it as well as anyone.바카라
There is a growing feeling, though, that Argentina might have come through the worst of the storm. It is only a week ago that Argentine soccer was going through a period of introspection, digesting one of its most embarrassing results ever.
Then, after an hour of its second group match against Mexico, the Albiceleste were being held 0-0 to raise the genuine prospect of a group-stage exit with a game to spare.
Now, Argentina has qualified as the winner of its group and is facing the world바카라s 38th-ranked nation, which is playing at this stage of the World Cup for only the second time, after 2006. Netherlands or the United States will be the opponent in the quarterfinals.
None of Argentina바카라s players will dare get ahead of themselves but it바카라s undeniable that the draw has opened up for them.
바카라We went back to being what we were for a long time,바카라 Messi said after Argentina바카라s 2-0 win over Poland that secured a place in the last 16, 바카라and how we were looking to be at the beginning of the World Cup, which for different reasons we could not manage.
바카라It gives confidence for what is coming.바카라
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni looks to have finally found a winning formula in Qatar. The center of midfield now appears to be set, with Alexis Mac Allister and 21-year-old Enzo Fernandez having forced their way into the starting team alongside Rodrigo De Paul.
Up front, Julian Alvarez has dislodged Lautaro Martinez and should keep his place against Australia, fresh from finishing off a 27-pass sequence for an exquisite second goal against Poland.
The only place that looks up for grabs is at center back, with Lisandro Martinez having dropped out against Poland perhaps so Argentina had a taller player to deal with the aerial threat of Robert Lewandowski.
Given only one player in Australia바카라s 26-man group plays in Europe바카라s top five leagues, it appears to be a mismatch at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. For spells of its win over Poland, Argentina played like a team that arrived in Qatar riding a 36-match unbeaten record and as one of the tournament favorites.
And then there바카라s the Messi factor, a subplot which is hanging over the World Cup as he looks to win the only major title to elude him in his career.
바카라I think they바카라re obviously driven by the motivation that it could be Messi바카라s last World Cup,바카라 Degenek said, 바카라and he wants to win the World Cup and end it on a high.
바카라For us, it바카라s about stopping that. Unfortunately, I바카라m a big fan of his, but I바카라d love to win the World Cup probably more than him.바카라
