Group C winners, Argentina face Group D runners-up Australia in the FIFA World Cup last-16.
The two countries have previously battled out a two-legged World Cup play-off in 1993, although this will be their first meeting at the final tournament.
Overall, it will be an eighth showdown between Argentina and Australia. This is the third time they share a pitch this century, with their most recent rendezvous in 2007. The South Americans have lost just one of the nations’ previous seven encounters.
Pre-tournament favourites Argentina suffered a slow start to their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, in what has been described as perhaps the greatest upset in World Cup history.
The two-time World Cup champions weren’t going down without a fight, winning their two remaining matches to progress as group winners.
(Photo: Getty Images)
La Albiceleste arrived in Qatar as Copa América reigning champions for the first time since 1994. That year, a South American nation (Brazil) was crowned champions of the world. Coming into this World Cup, the Argentinians were 36 games unbeaten under manager Lionel Scaloni.
Lionel Messi continues the hunt for an elusive World Cup winner’s medal and the 35-year-old has all but confirmed this will be his last bid at being crowned a world champion. Messi and Argentina came agonisingly close to World Cup glory in 2014, narrowly losing to Germany in the final.
Now playing at the World Cup finals for a fifth time Messi has scored two goals and provided one assist, putting him firmly in the running for the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards. The Argentina talisman was named Player of the Tournament at the 2014 edition.
Messi became his country’s first player to score at four editions of the tournament and he has netted eight goals at the World Cup finals, level with Argentine legend Diego Maradona. Messi has bagged 92 goals in 167 appearances for La Albiceleste, 36 goals more than compatriot Gabriel Batistuta.
1 – Lionel Messi is now both the youngest (18y 357d vs Serbia in 2006) and the oldest (35y 155d vs Mexico today) player to both score and assist in a single World Cup game since the start of the 1966 tournament. Longevity. pic.twitter.com/e6Ak6fmI8l
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2022
In the opposition camp, Australia are not being given much of a chance and they will have to put in a colossal effort to cause an upset on Messi and co.
Prior to Qatar 2022, the Aussies had earned two wins in 16 matches at the World Cup finals. Under head coach Graham Arnold the Socceroos doubled that tally with two victories in Group D, finishing level on points with France. This is the second time Australia have reached the last-16, last doing so in 2006.
Argentina are the overwhelming favourites in this particular tie, with 1.20 odds to win and advance to the quarter-finals; Australia are at 11.00 to win; 6.50 for a draw after regular time.
Argentina are 6.00 to win the 2022 World Cup. (Bet365)
