Argentina vs Australia LIVE: World Cup 2022 team news and line-ups as Lionel Messi begins knockout quest

12/03/2022

World Cup 2022: Argentina vs Australia

Is this the most unpredictable World Cup in recent history?

The World Cup group stage has thrown up its fair share of surprises in 2022.

Argentina, France, Spain, Portugal and Brazil all suffered defeats against lower-ranked opposition on the way to qualifying for the last 16, while Germany and Belgium exited the competition on the back of shock losses.

Is this unprecedented or simply the continuation of a trend? Here, we compare group stage results in 2022 with the previous six World Cups contested by 32 teams.

This is the first World Cup since the expansion to 32 teams in which no team has qualified from the group stage with a 100 per cent record.

Is this the most unpredictable World Cup in recent history?

Argentina, France, Spain, Portugal and Brazil all suffered defeats against lower-ranked opposition on the way to qualifying for the last 16

World Cup 2022: Argentina vs Australia

Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream remains alive, but this time thanks to Argentina’s next generation

By Mark Critchley in Doha

If you were watching this game closely enough at home and paying close attention to the far side of the pitch, you may have noticed that there were two tracks of dirt etched into the ground close to the touchline that almost resembled a number 10. A bit like when an elderly person in your local newspaper finds the image of Christ in a burned piece of toast, if you happened to notice it, it was impossible not to read this as a sign. What, if anything, did this mean?

What it meant, actually, was that this was the same area of the pitch where Poland’s players had been doing shuttle runs during their warm-up. While pounding their studs into the ground, they had really marked out two zeros, only the outside of the first was hidden by the darker shade of grass. It was a sign, in a way, but only a sign that while you can squint and strain to see the poetry in life, reality is often far more prosaic.

Argentina will progress to the knockout stages after all. Lionel Messi will be there. The greatest player of his generation is three games away from a World Cup 2022 final. That might be his night, the night that he declares his genius and it is finally undisputed, but this night was not.

It instead belonged to the others helping him get there, the team that he carries and is occasionally carried by, and the generation that will attempt to succeed him when all this is over.

The breakthrough was not found by the best of all time but a 23-year-old playing for Brighton. The second was scored by a 22-year-old, set up by a 21-year-old, all three of them combining to save the blushes of a 35-year-old who had missed a penalty.

Messi’s World Cup dream remains alive, but this time thanks to the next generation

The genius No10 missed his big chance on the night but his younger teammates found the route to goal

World Cup 2022: Argentina vs Australia

The teams have arrived at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan!

World Cup 2022: Argentina vs Australia – TEAM NEWS

Argentina starting XI: Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Acuna; Mac Allister, Fernandez, De Paul; Alvarez, Messi, Gomez

Papu Gomez is in for Angel Di Maria! We’re hearing Di Maria is injured…

Australia starting XI: Ryan; Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Mooy; Leckie, Irvine, McGree, Baccus; Duke

Keanu Baccus preferred to Craig Goodwin!

World Cup 2022: Argentina vs Australia

We now turn our attention to the second last-16 tie of the day, with Argentina heavy favourties against Australia.

Lionel Messi and Co got off to a terrible start as they were stunned by Saudi Arabia, but recovered to finish top of Group C after wins against Mexico and Poland.

For Australia – known as the Socceroos – they came second in Group D after brilliant wins against both Tunisia and Denmark after losing to France.

Kick-off at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan is at 7pm (GMT) – team-news on the way!

World Cup 2022: Netherlands 3-1 USA – Louis van Gaal flips tactical plans to show World Cup he’s still capable of new tricks

By Mark Critchley at the Khalifa International Stadium

In a way, this was a victory for the man but not the idea. This was not your typical Louis van Gaal performance. For the first time at this World Cup and for only the second since Van Gaal accepted a third stint in charge, the Netherlands ended a game without dominating the ball. Even when they had a lead to protect against a competitive and combative United States in the first last-16 tie of this World Cup they struggled to hold onto what they had and safely see the game out in the manner Van Gaal watchers have become accustomed to.

And yet in another way, it was the idea that got the man into that position. And once he had got there, he seemed pretty comfortable with it. The Netherlands took a lead that they never relinquished through the best team goal this tournament has seen to date – the goal that, you might say, the 36 year-long coaching career of Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal has always been threatening. Then, they always stayed one step ahead of Gregg Berhalter’s side with a game plan that could hardly have been more different.

First to that goal, though. Eleven minutes in, here it was: starting in their own penalty area with Frenkie de Jong dropping between his centre-halves, taking the ball off his goalkeeper, laying it off to his team-mates nearby, offering himself up in space if they came under the slightest bit of trouble. It is the role that this most indefinable of midfielders believes he is best in, because it is from that most unsuspecting of positions that he can lay the groundwork for things of beauty. How else to describe the opener?

It started slowly but built into a crescendo once De Jong’s conducting of the build-up play allowed the ball to break wide left. The pace quickened, from Blind to Memphis to Marten De Roon to Davy Klaasen, this burst of exchanges eliminating a United States midfield that had exceeded expectations at this tournament up until that point. Cody Gakpo, still some 45 yards out from goal, briefly looked tempted to try and score for the fourth consecutive game running but when the Netherlands are midway through a move like this, any individual urge is quashed for the good of the collective.

Louis van Gaal flips tactical plans to show he’s still capable of new tricks

Netherlands 3-1 USA: Van Gaal’s side decided not to control the ball but were always one step ahead of their opponents as they advanced to the quarter-finals

World Cup 2022: Netherlands 3-1 USA – MATCH REPORT

By Richard Jolly at the Khalifa International Stadium

The American dream is over but Louis van Gaal can still imagine glory. The Netherlands manager may have been in a minority of one when arguing his team could win the World Cup 2022 but his side marched into the quarter-finals with their best performance of tournament so far. There was vindication in victory for Van Gaal as the Oranje prospered courtesy of his blueprint.

The 71-year-olds has been criticised for abandoning the Dutch tradition of wingers, but his wing-backs proved potent. The second goal was created by Denzel Dumfries for Daley Blind, the third a role reversal.

Dumfries delivered the star turn, with two assists, a goal and a goal-line clearance. Only Johan Cruyff and Rob Rensenbrink had been directly involved in three goals in a World Cup game for the Dutch side before so Dumfries finds himself in elite company.

The other scorers were two survivors of the squad Van Gaal took to the semi-finals in 2014 and then to Manchester United, in Memphis Depay and Blind. Yet while his old boys helped, it was a triumph for the oldest manager in Qatar, a Van Gaal masterclass.

Netherlands’ first-half double seemed to stem from his tactics board, each coming from a low cutback from Dumfries towards the penalty spot. Both were the result of his positioning, with Van Gaal using the wing-back’s pace to get into space behind Antonee Robinson.

Van Gaal masterclass sees Netherlands beat USA to cruise into quarter-finals

Netherlands 3-1 USA: Denzel Dumfries scored one and set up two as the Oranje schooled the States

World Cup 2022: Netherlands 3-1 USA

How Netherlands scored the best team goal of the World Cup so far

By Jamie Braidwood

Sometimes in football, a goal is scored that is so perfect in its design and so majestic in its execution that it appears to have descended from the heavens themselves. Within those halls of greatness, the ‘team goal’ sits above the rest. It is the illustration of cohesion of movement and understanding of space, particularly when it involves 20 passes, all 11 players, moving the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, and is scored in a knockout match at the World Cup.

Particularly, too, when it is scored by the Netherlands, and when it is conveying the ethos of ‘total football’ the country helped to create.

The opening goal scored by Louis van Gaal’s side in their 3-1 win over the USA will by remembered as the finest team goal scored at this or any World Cup. That it came in response to a tactic that looked set to define this last-16 encounter heightens its brilliance too.

Before kick-off, the battle between the Netherlands and the USA was set to be as much of a contest between possession-based passing and high-energy pressing. After all, the USA had successfully disrupted England in their 0-0 draw in Group B, with the midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah earning rave reviews for their performances in Qatar.

The Netherlands, by contrast, had done just about the minimum required in Group A. Their passing had rarely looked sharp and the 3-4-1-2 system that Van Gaal has stuck by at the World Cup was struggling to provide the Dutch with any advantages against weaker opposition. Had it not been for the efficiency of Cody Gakpo, with three goals in three games from three shots on target, then the Netherlands might have found themselves in an uncomfortable situation.

How Netherlands scored the best team goal of the World Cup so far

Netherlands 3-1 USA: A sublime 20-pass move from Louis van Gaal’s side involving all 11 players will be remembered as the finest team goal of this or any World Cup

Netherlands 3-1 USA player ratings: Denzel Dumfries reprises Euro 2020 impact in World Cup round of 16

Netherlands became the first team to book their spot in the World Cup 2022 quarter-finals as they beat USA 3-1.

Christian Pulisic had a brilliant opening inside the first minutes of the match to put USA ahead, but it was instead Memphis Depay who finished a scintillating team move inside ten minutes for the opener at the other end.

A slow-paced first half played into the Dutch side’s hands and they doubled their lead right before the break – Daley Blind finishing the second goal after a neat move down the right.

USA needed a response after the restart and Tim Ream almost pulled one back only to miss his connection from close range. Haji Wright somehow scooped one in 15 minutes from time to set up a big finale, but Denzel Dumfries then was left unmarked to immediately restore the two-goal lead and send the Dutch through.

Here are the player ratings from the Khalifa International Stadium.

Netherlands vs USA player ratings: Dumfries reprises Euro 2020 impact in World Cup

Netherlands 3-1 USA: Two assists and a goal from right wing-back helped the Oranje seal a comfortable place in the last eight

World Cup 2022: Netherlands 3-1 USA

FULL-TIME: The Dutch have done it – they are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, coming out on top in a thrilling encounter here!

2-0 up at half-time through Depay and Blind, the US did mount a fightback with Wright’s goal but Dumfries’ volley put them clear again!

They will play Argentina or Australia on Friday in the last eight!

The US head home – but with their heads held high!

Register for free to continue reading

Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism

By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists

By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.

Already have an account? sign in

By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.

Register for free to continue reading

Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism

By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists

By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.

Already have an account? sign in

By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.

Source: Read Full Article