World Cup: Advance Australia fair? No way as Messi sings a different tune
The Aussies chased blue-and-white-striped shadows for 17 mins until their first (unsuccessful) incursion into the opposite box.
Passion and hope were pitted against talent and history as underdogs Australia shared the stadium with Argentina in their Round of 16 knockout clash on Saturday evening.
Australia were hoping that the words of their national anthem, ‘Advance Australia fair’ would be prophetic; but they were flat and Argentina were sharp as the score unfolded.
The Aussies chased blue-and-white-striped shadows for 17 mins until their first (unsuccessful) incursion into the opposite box.
That did get the first corner of the game as they slowly got into gear, but just past the half hour mark, a moment of Messi magic messed up matters for the Socceroos.
His give-and-go with Alexis Mac Allister led to a trade mark hit into the corner past partially sighted Matt Ryan in the Oz goal 1-0.
We noted that the soles of his boots were tinted gold: an intimation that he wants to be the competition’s top striker?
Well, the instep also looked gilded as he calmly and unerringly guided the ball goalward, exposing the problem of defending too deeply.
Surprisingly, this was Argentina’s only shot on target in the entire half.
Argentina came back out with a swagger and looked like professional pickpockets every time an Australian got the ball.
They didn’t need any favours, but got one anyway when Julian Alvarez benefitted from an error by keeper Ryan, who admittedly was put under pressure from a risky back pass and fluffed his clearance (2-0).
Who knew how crucial that lapse would be?!
The luck turned the other way when a 75th minute Craig Goodwin shot profited from a huge deflection to beat Emiliano Martinez in goal (2-1).
An amazing 40m slalom run from Aziz Behich nearly got Oz a second, foiled only by a superb Lautaro Martinez slide tackle when a goal seemed inevitable.
That wasn’t the last tango in Qatar for Australia as Martinez saved a 97th minute point blank shot from Alou Kual.
Ultimately, no surprises here, with Argentina having had the most shots by far, and they will meet the Netherlands on Friday – a repeat of the 1978 final, won 3-1 by the South Americans.
