FIFA World Cup Match Preview: Argentina v Australia

It all comes down to this. The Socceroos face Argentina in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Sunday morning at 6:00am (AEDT). 

The Socceroos are once again daring to dream after putting in another colossal performance to defeat Denmark 1-0 on Thursday morning (AEDT) and advance to the Round of 16. 

After losing 4-1 to France in the opening game of Group D, Australia bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisia before defeating Denmark. 

It was Mathew Leckie’s solitary goal on the hour mark against the Danes that sealed the Socceroos’ passage to the last 16 for the first time since 2006, with an incredible six points - our highest-ever points tally - to finish second behind France on goal difference in Group D.

Meanwhile, Argentina defeated Poland to secure their place as Group C winners, setting up a showdown with the Socceroos. 

Among the pre-tournament favourites, Argentina suffered a shock loss to Saudi Arabia in their first match before bouncing back with 2-0 wins over Mexico and Poland to finish top of Group C.

Australia is currently in 38th place in the FIFA World ranking and Argentina on the other hand is currently in 3rd place behind Belgium (2) and Brazil (1).

The two sides have faced off seven times previously with the Socceroos winning only once while one draw was played out. 

The Socceroos won its first-ever meeting with Argentina back in 1988. Australia beat the then-world champions 4-1 at the Bicentenary Gold Cup exhibition tournament.

The two sides also infamously battled in the 1994 World Cup play-offs, but the Socceroos and Argentina have never played each other in the finals of the tournament. Until now.

Sunday morning’s (AEDT) match will take place at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, the same venue the Socceroos defeated Peru on penalties in June to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

With both teams only having two full days to rest, squad rotation could come into play. 

Argentine winger Angel Di Maria was taken off as a precaution in their last game against Poland but will likely be fit to play alongside Lionel Messi again. 

Meanwhile, Graham Arnold has a near full squad to choose from with only Nathaniel Atkinson missing the wins over Tunisia and Denmark with an ankle knock. 

Reaching the quarter-finals would be dreamland for Australia, but Argentina seeking a third World Cup trophy pose the toughest challenge to date.

READ MORE: Our history vs Argentina

World ranking

Australia: 38
Argentina: 3

Stat insights

• Australia won consecutive World Cup matches for the first time against Denmark, while progressing from the group stages of the competition for just the second time in six tournament appearances (also 2006).
• Australia kept a clean sheet in consecutive World Cup matches for the first time. Indeed, they'd kept just one clean sheet in their first 17 matches in the competition before this run, which occurred back in 1974.
• Before the match against Denmark, Australia had lost eight of their prior 11 games against European opposition at the World Cup, failing to keep a clean sheet in every single match. It is now their second win against European at the Finals, after defeating Serbia in 2-1 in 2010.
• Australia were the third team to progress from the first round group stage of the World Cup having both lost and conceded 4+ goals in their opening match of the tournament, after Yugoslavia in 1990 and Ukraine in 2006.
• Australia has lost its last four matches against Argentina and last faced the South American side in September 2007.
• Argentina and Australia are meeting for the first time in a World Cup final-competition match. They did play off over two legs in the qualifying tournament for USA 1994, with Argentina claiming a 2-1 aggregate victory.

• Argentina are competing in the round of 16 for the ninth time in the last ten FIFA World Cups. They have won six of the previous eight fixtures in this round, but lost 4-3 to France last time out in 2018.

• Argentina's first FIFA World Cup defeat against AFC opponents came in their opening match in Qatar, which ended 1-2 to Saudi Arabia.

• Australia’s only previous round-of-16 fixture was a 1-0 defeat to Italy in 2006. They have never beaten South American opponents at the finals (D1 L3), though they did overcome Peru on penalties in their qualifying play-off for Qatar in Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, the venue for this fixture.

• Eight of Argentina’s last 15 matches in the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds have required extra time.

• Against Poland, Lionel Messi became Argentina’s all-time leading appearance-maker with 22 appearances in FIFA World Cup matches, surpassing Diego Maradona’s 21. An appearance in this game would see him move joint-third on the all-time list alongside Paolo Maldini (23), trailing only Miroslav Klose (24) and Lothar Matthäus (25).

• Mathew Leckie and Mathew Ryan are set to become the first Australian players to make ten appearances in the FIFA World Cup.

How to watch

The clash against Argentina  will be broadcast live and free on SBS and streamed live on SBS On Demand in Australia.

As always, be sure to check your local listings.

International fans can check their local guides.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - Round of 16

Argentina v Australia
Date: Sunday, 4 December 2022
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium Stadium
Kick-off: 6:00am (AEDT)
Watch: LIVE and FREE on SBS and SBS On Demand

READ MORE: How to watch: Argentina vs Australia | FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

What they said 

Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold

“I just think that Argentina bring the best out of Australia, and our performances every time against Argentina has been very strong and very good.

"As I said we go into the game with a lot of belief and a lot of energy and focus on ourselves and our job and for me it's a big one-percenter to be playing against them because they'll bring the best out of us."

Socceroos defender Harry Souttar

"We know it's going to be a difficult task, obviously we respect the player massively (Lionel Messi), 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 percent, we've got to be switched on at all times and be alert to every situation, because it's going to be a team effort and team collective and I don't think it can come down to one individual that's going to stop him."

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni

“All matches are tough and now, if you think the Australia match will be easy, you are wrong. They have shown they are tough. When you play in a World Cup and represent your country, you grow.”

Our squad

Arnold announced his 26-man squad on Tuesday, November 8 (AEDT) and selected a squad with a blend of overseas and Australian-based players as Australia look to progress from Group D.

Seventeen players in the squad have never featured at a FIFA World Cup, with many having all experienced their respective senior international debuts post the 2018 edition. It means there is a great opportunity for players to fulfil a childhood dream and represent their country at the pinnacle event in football.

READ MORE: Meet Australia's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Squad

Socceroos Squad | FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

What happens next?

If the Socceroos are to progress in full-time, extra-time or on penalties, they will face either Netherlands or United States in the FIFA World Cup Quarter Finals.