World Cup

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World Cup | Last 16

Dec 3, 2022 at 7pm UK

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

Argentina
2 - 1
Australia

Messi (35'), Alvarez (57')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Fernandez (77' og.)
Irvine (15'), Degenek (38')

World Cup 2022: Reasons for Argentina to be confident of beating Australia

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 02 December 2022

Ahead of Argentina's last-16 World Cup clash with Australia, Sports Mole looks at some reasons for the South Americans to be confident of progressing to the final eight.

Argentina will be bidding to reach the final eight of the 2022 World Cup when they take on Australia in the last-16 stage of the competition on Saturday evening.

Lionel Scaloni's side lost their competition opener to Saudi Arabia on November 22, but they responded to the setback by beating Mexico and Poland 2-0, with the results enough to see them finish at the top of Group C.

Argentina, who won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, will now take on Group D runners-up Australia for the right to be present in the last eight.

Here, Sports Mole looks at some reasons for Argentina to be confident of reaching the quarter-finals of the competition.

Strong record against Australia and experience at this stage compared to Saturday's opponents

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring against Poland at the World Cup on November 30, 2022 © Reuters

Argentina have won five and lost just one of their previous seven meetings against Australia in all competitions, with the defeat coming in the Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup back in July 1988.

The South American nation have been victorious in the last four clashes between the two teams, including a 1-0 win in their last match, which was a friendly, in September 2007.

The two sides have never locked horns at the finals of a World Cup, but Argentina beat Australia 2-1 on aggregate during qualification for the 1994 competition, with the pair meeting in the playoffs.

Australia have also lost three of their previous four World Cup matches against South American opposition, failing to win in the process.

The Socceroos are in the last-16 stage of a World Cup for just the second time in their history, following on from their spot in the knockout round back in 2006, but Argentina are regulars in the latter stages of the tournament and are also two-time world champions, lifting the trophy in 1978 and 1986.

Recent form

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring against Poland at the World Cup on November 30, 2022 © Reuters

Argentina were shocked by Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener on November 22, but they responded impressively by beating Mexico and Poland 2-0 in their next two games in the competition.

Scaloni's side have actually now won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, while their last defeat before the reverse to Saudi Arabia was back in July 2019 against Brazil.

In 2022, Argentina have played 12 times, recording 10 wins in the process, which made the reverse to Saudi Arabia an even bigger shock.

The South American nation were runners-up at the 2014 World Cup before being eliminated in the round of 16 four years ago in Russia.

Argentina have not gone out before the quarter-final stage in successive World Cups since the last-16 round was introduced in 1986, though, which is another reason to suspect that Scaloni's side will triumph.

Impressive defensive record despite Saudi Arabia blip

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on November 22, 2022 © Reuters

Argentina conceded twice in the defeat to Saudi Arabia in Lusail, and it was a disappointing defensive performance from the South American nation.

However, that game aside, the team's defensive record of late has been excellent.

Lisandro Martinez was brought into the side against Mexico due to the disappointment of the Saudi Arabia clash, but the Manchester United defender was back on the bench against Poland despite helping the side keep a clean sheet, with Cristian Romero returning to partner Nicolas Otamendi.

Argentina have kept clean sheets in seven of their last eight games in all competitions, with the two efforts against Saudi Arabia proving to be the first goals that they had conceded since the end of March.

Scaloni's side have become used to winning matches to nil, only conceding four times in total this year, which is a staggering defensive record to take into this last-16 affair.

Meanwhile, the team have only faced 11 shots across their three matches at the competition, which is the best record in the tournament at this stage.