The Socceroos brought their hearts into the game and put up a fight against Argentina and Lionel Messi as Australia ended their best World Cup campaign. This is the soccer match that Socceroos Captain Matt Ryan will be remembered for.
One the World’s best soccer players pushed Argentina to eliminate and put a period on Australia’s best World Cup run, as Lionel Messi started the round of 16 rampage in the first half with his impressive goal at the 35th minute mark to celebrate his 1000th career game. While his teammate Julian Alvarez took advantage of Australia’s mess and goalkeeping error by Matt Ryan to score the second team goal and secure the win for Argentina.
However the Socceroos fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half to cut the lead and register Australia’s first goal by substitute Craig Goodwin with an impressive long range shot that was deflected into the net by Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez at the 77th minute mark. Australia’s teenager Garang Kuol had a chance to level the game but was blocked by a brilliant goalkeeping performance of Emiliano Martinez.
Emotional Jackson Irvine expressed his frustration to the reporters after the match, he said: “We gave it everything. Just like we have every minute of this competition. So proud of all the players and the staff. Just not enough on the day.”
“I think we did everything we could to give ourselves a chance in the game. When Argentina are celebrating like this, victory against Australia, I think it shows what kind of opposition we gave them today. It’s difficult to comprehend everything at the moment. It’s all quite raw. I hope we made everyone proud,” Jackson emotionally told the media.
Australia’s head coach Graham Arnold also expressed his feelings towards the team as he was very proud of his players, however he admitted that Mat Ryan’s goalkeeping mistakes which gave Alvarez an easy goal cost the team’s chance to advance. The first goal of Argentina in the match is also Messi’s ninth World Cup goal and his first goal in the knockout stage as he helped Albiceleste book a quarterfinal match against the Netherlands.
“I have to be very proud of the players. You know, we played against the number three in the world. And the first goal from Messi was a quality goal. The mistake cost us. I just hope that everyone back in Australia really respects what we’ve done and are proud of us as well. We took it to them,” Coach Graham Arnold said.
The valiant effort of the Socceroos throughout the match was very obvious and visible as they made it difficult for Argentina to find a perfect space and open spot to send the ball to the net, but Messi’s dribbling skills and his extraordinary offense gave Argentina an advantage in the 35th minute. Argentina really outclassed Australia and suffocated them with tenacious defense and made the Socceroos commit horrible mistakes including Mat Ryan’s miscalculation on the goal. In the late and dying minutes of the second half, Australia had the chance to tie the game while Argentina were trying to seal the victory, double the lead, Kuol had a golden opportunity to tie the match but Martinez had other plans and made a brilliant save to keep Argentina up and later on beat Australia.
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