Australia's World Cup adventure came to an end against a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina. A 2-1 loss at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium matched its best-ever performance at soccer's biggest tournament by reaching the round of 16 for only the second time in its history. (More Football News)
EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCE
Drawn in Group D with defending champion France and Euro 2020 semif🦩inalists Denmark, the Socceroos had a tough task just to reach the round of 16. A 4-1 loss to France in its opening game was a worrying start.
Back-to-back wins against Tunisia and Denmark saw the Aussies pick up their highest points total in a group stage and emulate the perfor♛mance from 2006 by qualifꦿying for the knockouts.
Few would have expected Australia to get past Argentina, but it gave Messi and Co. a real fright🐬 with a late fightback Saturday.
“Everyone said before we came here we were the worst Socceroo team ever to qualify for a World Cup, but that's gone now,” said coach Graham Arnold.
WHO'S OUT?
Arnold's contract is up and his ඣfuture is♛ uncertain.
“I need a break, a rest and no ൲doubt I'll have 𝐆some good discussions with the organisation,” he said after the match.
Six of the players who made the field for Australia against Argentina are in their 30s, with Aaron💎 Mooy the oldest of those at 32.
Mitchell Duke, w൲ho scored the winner against Tunisia, is 31 and so is Matthew Leckie, who struck against Denmark.
How many of those will still be around in four years' time remains to be seen.
WHO'S NEXT?
Garang Kuol, at 18 years and 79 days, b♏ecame the youngest player to appeꦫar in a World Cup knockout match since Pele in 1958.
An𒉰d the teenager, who is joining Premier League club Newcastle in January, was close to making himself an Australian he🎃ro when forcing a late save from Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Stoke defender Harry Souttar, at 24, is another who could have a bright future after enhancing his reputation with impressive performances at the Worಌld Cup.
Ar🥂nold used his post-match news c𒅌onference to lobby for a national soccer development centre in Australia to produce more high-quality players.
“We need to spend money and get help from government to put some money in the game to help develop kids,” he said. “One thing I'd really love to see before I finish up in football is that the government build us a house. We don't have a home. We've been homeless since I've been involved for 37 years in the national teams.”
WHAT'S NEXT?
Australia has a quick chance to build on the success of th♌e World Cup when it returns to Qatar next y🔯ear for the Asian Cup.
It won the tourn🅺ament in 2015, but will face tough competition, with Japan, South Korꦍea and Saudi Arabia also qualifying.
The performances of those nations, along with Australia, at the World Cup is evidඣence of the growing strength of soccer in th🐽e region.
