The winger missed training on Friday because of a thigh problem and is replaced in the team by Papu Gómez. He has, however, been named on the bench. Defences on top? Australia - and giant centre-back Harry Souttar in particular - have earned plenty of plaudits for their defending in the last two group games. This is also impressive from the Argentines and I'm starting to worry. Two defences that don't give much away and a stadium that hasn't seen that many goals.... Maybe if I call it out, it won't happen! Annoyingly, Argentina haven't confirmed this themselves and I wanted a nice Argentina-branded graphic to share with you good people.
Argentina vs Australia Football Live Streaming FIFA World
Argentina vs. Australia FREE LIVE STREAM (12/3/22) - NJ.com
" Messi: We had the game under control, we weren't in too much danger"We had the game under control. We could've killed them off then they scored via a deflection. We weren't in too much danger other than the one at the end that Martínez had to save. We knew that they would fight until the end but we're through, that's what matters. " Reaction coming upMessi is one of several Argentina players who's already had their say on their 2-1 win. Messi overtakes Cristiano Ronaldo and MaradonaMessi (9) has now scored more World Cup goals than Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona (both 8).
Argentina are playing with much more intensity in this second half. It was a mistake from Mathew Ryan but the pressing from Rodrigo De Paul and Julián Álvarez made that goal. Superb work from the pair. GOOOOOOOOOOL, Julían Álvarez! 2-0! Ryan has had a nightmare there... Souttar rolls the ball back to his goalkeeper and he panics with De Paul hunting him down. Ryan takes a heavy touch and it goes straight to Álvarez, who turns and rolls the ball into an empty net. Messi almost in! That was strange and a very un-Australia like passage of play. Martínez boots one long and Messi is almost clean through on goal.
Watch Argentina vs. Australia World Cup 2022 Match - CNET
I've seen 2-0 being described as a 'dangerous lead' before but this one looks anything but dangerous. Australia haven't threatened at all in this second half. Almost an instant impact from Martínez! But he can't quite get on the end of a runaround, with Rowles just beating him to the ball as he threatened to break through on goal. Triple change for AustraliaKuol, Karacic and MacLaren on for Leckie, Degenek and Duke. Double switch for ArgentinaLautaro Martínez and Nicolás Tagliafico on for Julián Álvarez and Marcos Acuña. A fine performance from Álvarez in attack, and a goal.
Without carrying a great deal of threat, Australia had managed to work their way higher up the pitch as the half went on and the goal came just as they were enjoying their best spell of the match. 789 goals for MessiNumber 800 won't be too far away... We've not had anything to get excited about since the goal, really. But Messi's strike has got the Argentina fans fired up again after a bit of a lull. Álvarez also doing his bit with some chasing down of the Australian defence. Souttar is next to go in hard on Messi. A fair challenge but looked a sore one for the PSG star.
Madness! And seconds later, Messi curls another one a matter of inches wide! That would have been vintage Messi... again. GREAT SAVE FROM RYAN! It's not been Lautaro's night in his short time on the field. Messi again picks Martínez out with a perfect pass, he hits the target this time but Ryan keeps it out.
Defender Lisandro Martínez comes on for attacker Papu Gómez. Great pressing from Australia! Duke chases down Argentina goakeeper Martínez and almost leaves him red faced. He gets a block on the clearance but it goes out for a throw. The boys are back and the second half is underway! What can Australia conjure up? More entertainment "guaranteed" in second half! With that in mind, we're surely going to have a bit more entertainmentin terms of efforts on goal in the second half, aren't we? We couldn't have much less... Australia will have to come out and play a bit, which will leave more space for Argentina to attack. Have I talked you into it? Yes, come on! xG haters look away nowNot everyone is a fan of xG, I know, but this is a nice stat to show you just how little goalmouth action there's been so far. Next to nothing at either end.
But this'll have to do for now. As I mentioned below. That's one change from the team that defeated Poland, Papu Gómez comes in to replace the injured Ángel Di María. Argentina XI vs Australia*They haven't announced it anywhere themselves but I have it on good authority that it'll be this:Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; De Paul, Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Álvarez, Gomez. *Let's see! Argentina are in the building! Argentina are in the building, which is great.
Argentina vs Australia live stream: How can I watch World Cup
They won two out of three tournaments in between 1978 and 1986 and have since lost two finals, in 1990 and 2014. How far can they go this time? Half-an-hour to go! 30 minutes to go to kick-off... how are the nerves, Argentinians and Australians? Atmosphere looks to be building nicely in Al Rayyan. Finally...! This is what I was waiting for for about 45 minutes. You've got to dot the Ts and cross the Is. Lionel Messi looking for first ever World Cup knockout goalLionel Messi. Seven Ballon d'Or awards... 11 league titles... Four Champions Leagues... One Copa América... ZERO World Cup knockout goals. I find that incredible, don't you? Could tonight be the night? Ángel Di Maria absent for ArgentinaIt comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody but Ángel Di María has lost his race to be fit to start against Australia.
Not a bad shift from Leo. 10 minutes to go! Argentina and Australia warm-ups are coming to an end. Who've you got for this one? Australia World Cup recordThis is Australia's sixth appearance in the World Cup and their fifth in a row. This is just the second they've reached the round of 16 after Germany 2006, when they lost to eventual winners Italy because of an injury-time penalty from Francesco Totti. Argentina World Cup recordArgentina are won of three teams to have won the World Cup twice, along with Uruguay and France.
[Argentina v Australia][.[FOX@SPORTS].TV - Zencastr
[[ŠPORT V ŽIVO>]] Argentina Avstralija živo online 3 - Shifters
"Messi, Messi" is the cry once again as he mesmerises us all with a bit more silkiness on the ball. Australia have it back though. Seven minutes of added time to be played! It's stating the obvious but Argentina need to be careful here. Big Harry Souttar has gone up front for Australia, they're going to pump balls forward like there's no tomorrow now. WHAT A MISS! That's a shocker from Lautaro Martínez. Australia lose possession, Messi picks it up, bides his time and tees up Martínez, who has plenty of time to pick his spot but sends it into the crowd behind the goal. They won't get it like that, though. De Paul slides the ball through to Martínez in the box but he drags his first-time effort well wide. Things have settled back down a little bit. Argentina will be happy to have possession and stop Australian from building up a head of steam.
How to Watch Argentina vs Australia, FIFA World Cup 2022
He can be happy with his night's work. And within seconds, Messi fires one narrowly over from the edge of the area! Much, much, much, MUCH better from Argentina! This is the Argentina we all wanted to see (unless you're Australian). Almost a second for Álvarez! Acuña whips a great cross in from the left and Álvarez is a whisker away from connecting! Wow. Messi is really in the mood now! Another run from deep cuts through the Australian midfield and, after a couple of ricochets, he almost has another sight of goal, only for the ball to be cleared for a corner (which is cleared). For the second time in the game, there are roars from the Argentinian fans in attendance as Messi puts on another display of impeccable close control. Olé.. Double change for AustraliaGoodwin and Hrustic replace McGree and Baccus. Alexis Mac Allister is next to throw himself into a block high up the pitch.
Argentina Australia live score, video stream and H2H results
Argentina vs Australia LIVE Score Updates - VAVEL.com
That was reminiscent of my golf game. Aaron Mooy's delivery is excellently headed away by Otamendi under pressure. It goes back to theCeltic man, who floats another cross straight out of play. Whistles all round. A bit of possession for Australia for the first time in the game and they work their way out of defence and into midfield really easily. The ball is worked wide to Leckie, who forces a corner! Australia will be very happy with this so far. Mathew Ryan hasn't had anything to do in the first 20 minutes. Were they watching Cameroon last night? Stay in the game and then try something late on was their philosophy.
This is it! Here we go! National anthem time! The teams are emerging from the tunnels and the national anthems are about to get underway! Lionel Messi in numbersDid I mention that tonight was Lionel Messi's 1000th professional game? 788 goals, 385 assists and 41 trophies to go with the aforementioned 7 Ballon d'Ors.
But, you know, Messi. Messi's first World Cup knockout goalA first World Cup knockout goal for the Argentina captain. Would you back against him to get a few more in his final tournament? Messi puts Argentina 1-0 ahead at half-time! It just had to be Lionel Messi on his 1000th appearance! Australia will be very disappointed to go in a goal behind. They've done everything right, have hardly given Argentina any space to work with in the final third, goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has had almost nothing to do. I used the words *hardly* and *almost* deliberately there as *hardly* and *almost* are usually not quite enough when Messi is on the field. The PSG man hasn't had one of his better nights by any stretch of the imagination but a little bit of time and a little bit of space was all he needed to produce a moment of brilliance.
Argentina vs Australia live stream: watch the game for free