Australia’s incredible FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ has ended after falling 2-1 to Argentina in the Round of 16 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez scored a goal each for the Argentines to put them in a strong position.
But Australia clawed its way back though, after Craig Goodwin’s strike deflected off Enzo Fernandez which went down as an own goal in the 77th minute.
However, it was not enough as a valiant Green and Gold outfit exited the tournament.
Graham Arnold made just the solitary change to his starting line-up which defeated Denmark. In fact it was the XI that began the second-half, with Keanu Baccus making his maiden Socceroos start, coming in for Craig Goodwin which pushed Riley McGree onto the wing.
Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie also became the first Australians to register 10 appearances at the FIFA World Cup, surpassing Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano.
Australia began in a compact 4-4-2 formation, with two low blocks and forced to defend quite deep with La Albiceleste controlling the majority of possession.
It took until the 17th minute for Argentina to generate a shot at goal, and it was Papu Gomez who blazed miles wide of the target from outside the box.
Having created virtually little until that point, that would change in the 35th minute when Messi struck with a composed finish as Australia conceded the opening goal for the maiden time this tournament.
Alexis Mac Allister threaded a pass into Nicolas Otamendi off a recycled free-kick and the centre-back’s touch opened the angle for the Argentine legend to net his first FIFA World Cup knockout goal and third in this year’s tournament.
As Argentina remained patient with the ball, Australia gradually saw more possession higher up the field but failed to test goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Alvarez made it 2-0 in the 57th minute dispossessing Ryan and seeing his finish trickle into an empty.
Goodwin and Ajdin Hrustic were immediately introduced for Riley McGree and Keanu Baccus, having been ready and waiting on the sideline before the concession.
Arnold emptied his bench, making a triple substitution in the 72nd as Garang Kuol, Jamie Maclaren and Fran Karacic came on for Mitch Duke, Leckie and Milos Degenek.
From out of absolutely nothing Goodwin gave Australia a spark when his strike from Otamendi’s block took a wicked deflection, leaving Martinez stranded.
It was officially awarded as an own goal to Enzo Fernandez which was also happened to be Australia’s inaugural goal scored in the knockout stages in the history of the competition.
The moment injected life into the Socceroos and they had the South Americans on the back foot.
Aziz Behich went on a mazy run into the box and was so close from getting a clear shot away before his attempt was blocked by Lisandro Martinez.
With the game stretched, Lautaro Martinez then curled his effort wide of the top corner after Messi drew three defenders before finding the unmarked Inter Milan striker.
Ryan also produced a pair of strong saves with the Aussies throwing numbers forward.
In the last seconds of the game, Kuol controlled Goodwin’s cross and managed to turn and shoot but a desperate Martinez smothered the shot.
Australia’s FIFA World Cup ended but they did the nation proud with a gallant performance, pushing the Albiceleste all the way to the end.
Opta Insights
- Matthew Leckie has been directly involved in two of Australia’s three goals at the 2022 World Cup (1 goal, 1 assist). He’s one of only three players to score and assist in a single World Cup for Australia, along with Tim Cahill (2 goals, 1 assist) and John Aloisi in 2006 (1 goal, 2 assists).
- Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie are both making their 10th appearance at the World Cup, the first Australian players to do so.
- Lionel Messi is making his 1,000th appearance in senior football for Barcelona (778), PSG (53) and Argentina (169).
- Lionel Messi scored in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time for Argentina, with his previous eight goals in the competition all coming during the group stage. Only Gabriel Batistuta (10) has scored more World Cup goals for Argentina than Messi (9).
- Lionel Messi has scored his 789th career goal in all competitions, with Australia the 129th different opponent he’s scored against.
- Argentina have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in 4 of their 4 games, no team has done this more in the 2022 World Cup.
- Australia have scored in their last 4 games in the World Cup, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 4 games from 19th June 2010 to 18th June 2014.
- Argentina have scored in their last 6 games in the World Cup, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 6 games from 24th June 2006 to 27th June 2010.
- Argentina have scored in each of their last 6 games in the World Cup, scoring 12 goals in that run.
- K. Rowles attempted 69 passes in this game, the highest total for a Australia player in the 2022 World Cup.
- 44.1% of the action has been in the Australia third over the last 15 minutes.
- The round of 16 remains the furthest stage that Australia have ever reached at the World Cup, also eliminated at this point of the competition in 2006 against Italy, who went on to lift the trophy.
- Australia have lost each of their last four World Cup matches against South American sides, each time against a different team – Brazil (2006), Chile (2014), Peru (2018) and Argentina (2022).
- Enzo Fernández’s own goal was only the second by an Argentina player at the World Cup, after Roberto Perfumo’s against Italy in 1974.
Match Details
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – Round of 16
Sunday, 4 December 2022 (AEDT)
Argentina 2 (Messi 35’, Alvarez 57’)
Australia 1 (Fernandez OG 77’)
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium Stadium
