RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 (edited) Lionel Messi makes his 1,000th career appearance today as he hopes to inspire Argentina to a Quarter-Final place against the Dutch on Friday; it'll be his 169th international cap. Argentina are 2nd favourites for the World Cup (behind Brazil) but coach Scaloni has been moaning about Australia having an extra 4 hours rest since the last game (!) Still, Scaloni doesn't have to call on players from Stoke City, Colombus Crew and Adelaide United, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Teams should be announced at about 6pm GMT. Match facts pinched from the BBC site: Australia's only win in seven games against Argentina was in their first meeting in 1988. Current Socceroos boss Arnold played in that match. Argentina have reached the World Cup knockout stage for the ninth time in the last 10 World Cups. Messi has had 23 efforts without scoring in the World Cup knockout stages for Argentina. Australia have won consecutive matches and kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time at the World Cup. Their previous clean sheet before their two in this tournament was back in 1974. Edited December 3, 2022 by RTHerringbone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Should be a good game, vamos Argentina! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 (edited) Di Maria dropped for Gomez which feels like the right call as he was anonymous in the last game. EDIT - not dropped - injured apparently but he'd likely have been at risk anyway. Edited December 3, 2022 by RTHerringbone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Believe it or not, there have been some previous competitive meetings between these two. They ended up in a two-legged playoff for one of the final places at USA 94. Argentina weren't good enough to take one of the three automatic CONMEBOL spots that year, even though they had just won the Copa America. So they ended up in the inter-continental playoffs. Won 1-0 in Buenos Aires after the Aussies held them to a 1-1 draw in Sydney. Also the Confederations Cup in Germany in 2005. 4-2 win for Argentina in Nuremberg. I was actually at that game Can't remember much about it though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, Rob1981 said: Argentina weren't good enough to take one of the three automatic CONMEBOL spots that year Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 On one hand I don't want Messi to win because of insufferable fanboys and there are some more easily dislikeable players on the squad, but on the other hand you've got this: Not a single nation in the world comes even close to them when it comes to passion about football, especially the NT. Can you imagine legends of any other big nation being like this? Especially after some of them were treated so poorly during their NT days. Just insane how much they love the sport. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Oh, and Messi goes LEVEL with Paolo Maldini on 23 World Cup games. Joint third on the all-time list. Reminder that he is on course to break the record if Argentina make the semis. Semi final would be his 25th game, then either the final or the third place playoff to come. 25 - Lothar Matthaus 24 - Miroslav Klose 23 - Paolo Maldini, Lionel Messi 21 - Uwe Seeler, Władysław Żmuda, Diego Maradona Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 I can't see Australia playing expansively enough to materially add to this stat: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezer Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Hope the Argentine have a more complex code to break than the Danes did… Spoiler Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Australia didn't look particularly good against Tunisia, and looked pretty bad against France. Even though Argentina haven't looked great I can't see them being kept out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Can only see a one sided game tonight I'm afraid...football gods, prove me wrong!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Argentina should really be getting the job done and comfortably inside the 90. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Really cannot look past Argentina for this one. Arguably the biggest mismatch of the last 16. Messi & co to win by 3 goals. At least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluedave Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 If Messi doesn't finally score in a knockout game tonight, he never is 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Says it all when everyone I know and see in the media would be happy for Messi to win a WC and yet no one would want Ronaldo to do the same. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallen Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 All ready for the Enzo masterclass here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezer Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, Rebs said: Says it all when everyone I know and see in the media would be happy for Messi to win a WC and yet no one would want Ronaldo to do the same. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ronaldo win the World Cup tbf, if not just for the meltdown on here. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, Rebs said: Says it all when everyone I know and see in the media would be happy for Messi to win a WC and yet no one would want Ronaldo to do the same. Yeah I was just thinking about how sad it feels to know that we'll only see a couple more Messi appearances at a World Cup but I'm totally ambivalent about the same applying for Ronaldo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Gómez for Di María is a big downgrade Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, Weezer said: I wouldn’t mind seeing Ronaldo win the World Cup tbf, if not just for the meltdown on here. It would be seismic 😁😁😁 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 COME ON, AUSSIE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf_pd Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 4 minutes ago, Weezer said: I wouldn’t mind seeing Ronaldo win the World Cup tbf, if not just for the meltdown on here. The full mod room would need to be online to keep to melt and then implode on itself. Butwould it be a Portugal - Argentina final, it would be even worse. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshift Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Mon Strayla! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icondacarver Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 I just can't support Argentina regardless of circumstance so mon Australia. Little chance of an Aussie win but I can dream. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Bit of a weird angle for your arm. Wouldn't have been surprised if that was given Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 For tactical reasons I would love Australia to win but I just can't imagine it happening. Should Argentina beat the Netherlands next game, I would love for them to win the tournament. It would settle the GOAT question, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SouthCoastRed Posted December 3, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted December 3, 2022 Was about to ask if anyone else has strange coloured light dots all over the pitch, but I’ve just realised it’s the reflection off the Christmas Tree lights 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 Fair play to the Aussies. They've come out in the opposite way to what I expected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Argentina may as well be playing at El Monumental with that atmosphere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Irvine out next match. Maybe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Australia look like they did against France, mostly losing it as soon as they get it. They don't have much physically in the middle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearcey_90 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Very boring game this. Nice they got through but it leads to some proper ***** gAmes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 How many times has Messi touched the ball so far? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 1 minute ago, pearcey_90 said: Very boring game this. Nice they got through but it leads to some proper ***** gAmes. Your face is boring. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOORAY HENRIK Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Argentina using the Belgian walking football tactic. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icondacarver Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Do Argentina have fitness issues or is this there style? The press is not great at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Just playing keep ball atm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 1 minute ago, Icondacarver said: Do Argentina have fitness issues or is this there style? The press is not great at all. Messi and Papu are 70 years old combined, what do you expect. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 I love the fact that there's a St. Mirren player on the pitch here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 What's Murphy talking about? Any footballers could pass it between them with no pressure on them. As soon as the Aussies go forward they struggle to put passes together. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 (edited) Australia's best option is to have Harry Souttar head one of these set pieces in. Edited December 3, 2022 by Darius1998 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Some people have been spoilt by the Spain's and Barca's of football and can't appreciate a massive underdog trying to scrap for a win 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearcey_90 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 This LB probably made like 6 fouls this half Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Finally! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearcey_90 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 At last! Thank god. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 MESSI MESSI MESSI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Never a time to panic just 30 minutes into the game but Argentina really need to up their game at some point, been straightforward for the Aussies to defend against them so far annnnndddd they've just scored Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Lovely goal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 At last. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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