Argentina vs Australia: Lionel Messi admitted it was a ‘difficult’ and ‘physical’ game for the Argentina national soccer team as they defeated Australia 2-1 to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals FIFA 2022.
Both teams came into this game between Argentina and Australia with two straight wins after a loss in their opening matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina qualified for the round of 16 as the leader of Group C, with six points from three games. Australia, meanwhile, secured their place in the round of 16 after finishing second in Group D, with six points from three games.
In this Argentina vs Australia 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match, it was the former who scored the first. And that goal came from none other than Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute of the game, with a fine shot that he found from the bottom.
Read more: Argentina qualifies for the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Russia
Argentina vs Australia: Lionel Messi reacts after ‘difficult match’ against Australia at 2022 FIFA World Cup
Julián Álvarez doubled the lead of the South American heavyweights in the 57th minute of this Argentina vs Australia match. However, Australia halved their deficit in this 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 clash after Enzo Fernández conceded his own goal.
Lionel Messi and company then had a chance to end the game, while Australia also created chances to restore parity. Neither team scored another goal in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Argentina vs Australia match as the former qualified for the quarterfinals.
Speaking after the match, Lionel Messi admitted it was a ‘difficult’ and ‘physical’ game for Argentina. He also admitted that the game was complicated when Australia halved the deficit and that Argentina had chances to put the game out of reach for their opponents.
“We made it difficult to make it 2-1, because it was a controlled game and we could have finished it,” Lionel Messi said after Argentina won their 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 clash.
“It was a difficult game, it was a difficult day. We had very little rest time, we were tired and we did not recover well. It was a very physical game”.
Read more: The Netherlands qualify for the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals
Meanwhile, Argentina will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Netherlands have qualified for the quarterfinals after defeating the USA 3-1 in the round of 16.
