Argentina will be wary of another shock when they face surprise package Australia in the round of 16 of the World Cup at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.
Lionel Messi – in what is believed to be his last World Cup – has already been on the wrong end of a major upset at this tournament when La Albiceleste were beaten 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening match.
They managed to recover and made it through Group C as winners to book today’s date with the Socceroos. But from here, one slip, and the contest is over.
If Messi is to fulfill his dream of winning the biggest trophy in football – and one of the few that eluded him in a glittering career – he must win every game from here on out.
Argentina vs Australia Live Score
| Team | 1H | 2H | Final |
| Argentina | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Australia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Goals:
ARG – Lionel Messi – 34 mins
ARG – Julian Alvarez – 57 mins
AUS – Goodwin – 77 mins
Estimated lineups:
(4-3-3, right to left): 23. e. Martinez (GK) — 4. Montiel, 25. L. Martinez, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 24. Fernandez, 20. McAllister – 17. Gomez, 10. Messi, 9. Alvarez
(4-4-1-1, right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) — 2. Degenek, 19. Answer, 4. Rawls, 16. Nothing – 7. Lackey, 13. Mooy, 22. Irwin, 11 Mabil – 10. Hrustic – 15. Duke.
Argentina vs Australia Live Update, 2022 World Cup Highlights
Full Time: All over and Argentina is done, but Australia should be very proud of themselves after a spirited campaign!
90+6 mins: Garang Kuol goes so close!
The teenager turns from an angle and shoots, but Amy Martinez makes a brilliant block with his chest!
95+5 min: It’s all action, with Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi blocking more shots with a desperate Australian defense.
90+3 min Souttar is now in front, but Australia is struggling to generate any attacking momentum. A set piece is probably the best chance for an equalizer.
90+1: Seven minutes of added time.
89 min: What a chance for Lautaro Martinez! Messi leads a three-on-three break, bides his time, and plays a superb pass to an unmarked Martinez 12 yards out. He opens his body and skylights it.
87th min: Argentina wasted a minute keeping the ball away from Australia. Excellent game management, as we are contractually obliged to call it.
83 min: Romero goes down clutching his face after a challenge with Kuol. He got caught, though probably not enough to justify walking around like an eeijt.
78 min: What a run from Aziz Bayhich! He drives into the box and looks to be pulling the trigger when Lisandro Martinez’s brilliant tackle saves the day!
Watched this match, it’s alive, I tell you!
77 mins: GOOAAALLLL!!! Craig Goodwin pulls one back!
It could have been an own goal as Goodwin’s shot went wide but deflected off Enzo Fernandez.
Australia is back at it!
The given video is available in US
THE SOCCEROOS TAKE ONE BACK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 3, 2022
Australia responds in the 77th minute 🇦🇺😤 pic.twitter.com/gEXN2k5p6T
The given video is available in UK
AUSTRALIA ARE BACK IN IT 😳
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 3, 2022
Craig Goodwin's shot takes a huge deflection off Enzo Fernandez which wrong foots Emi Martinez 🙈
Game on!#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/PY4Hrlbla1
The given video is available in AUSTRALIA
GAME ON!!! 💪
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) December 3, 2022
The @Socceroos are back in this! 🙏
Watch Argentina v Australia right now on @SBS and @SBSOnDemand! 🇦🇷 🇦🇺
▶: https://t.co/hcldigrSVi#SBSWorldCup #WeAllSpeakFootball #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/caqCoiEwod
73 min: Lautaro Martinez for Julian Alvarez, looks to head home a long ball pumped forward for a second. Another substitution saw Nicolas Tagliafico replace Marcos Acuna.
70 min: Australian legend Tim Cahill is pictured looking frustrated in the stands – the Socceroos could do with his bite and aggression now.
67 min: There will be at least one more Lionel Messi game at the World Cup, at this rate – and there could be a few more after that in this form.
64 mins: Lionel Messi weaves inside the area but Milos Degenek’s outstretched leg works – that’s it.
61 min: Australia bring on Craig Goodwin and Azdin Hrustic for Riley McGree and Keanu Box, they should be going for it now but to be honest it looks like a lost cause. Argentina is enjoying it now.
Another goal to Argentina. Julian Alvarez After Matt Ryan’s Rage!
The Australian keeper tried to be clever with the ball at his feet, but Rodrigo de Paul did well to latch onto it and feed the City striker, who didn’t fail to score from there!
53 min: Nicolas Otamendi gets the ball back to the keeper and Mitch Duke runs at goal, but Emiliano Martinez clears it in time.
50 min: Lionel Messi shoots from outside the area, but he slips after shooting and Matt Ryan easily collects.
49 min: It looks a lot easier at the moment for Argentina, who then replace Alejandro Gomez with Lisandro Martinez.
46 mins: We’re back on track, no changes from either side so far.
Half-time: Australia finish the half on the attack, but the teams walk away with Lionel Messi pumping his fists into the crowd as he walks down the tunnel. After the moment of his amazing skill, he deserves.
44 min: Julian Alvarez chases the ball past Matt Ryan in the sx yard box, then beats the Australian defense to try and clear.
41 min: Australia must now chase the game, not what they were set up for, while Argentina are boosted by their talisman’s moment of magic.
36 mins: Yellow card – Milos Degenec is booked for a hand in the face of Marcos Acuna.
GOOAALLLLLLLL! Lionel Messi! Who else???
The diminutive genius races into the area and collects a touch from Julian Alvarez before sliding a left-footed shot past Matt Ryan’s right hand and into the low net. Fantastic, fantastic stuff.
The given video is available in US
Give Messi an inch, he will find the back of the net 🎯 pic.twitter.com/eamX9eQxqn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 3, 2022
The given video is available in UK
LIONEL MESSI SCORES IN HIS 1000TH GAME 🔥
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 3, 2022
That’s 789 goals for the Argentina forward as he scores his first #FIFAWorldCup knockout strike 🤯#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/pioPUpZnhI
The given video is available in Australia
MESSIIIIIIIII! 🥵
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) December 3, 2022
Argentina’s main man has opened the scoring against the @Socceroos! 🔥
Watch Argentina v Australia right now on @SBS and @SBSOnDemand! 🇦🇷 🇦🇺
▶: https://t.co/hcldigIVXi#SBSWorldCup #WeAllSpeakFootball #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tQYPNEwXKw
31 min: Aaron Mooy misses a chance by overhitting a free kick in Argentina’s area. Australia will have to make the most of the rare opportunities they have, but they are growing in confidence.
30 min: The decibel level goes up when Lionel Messi takes the ball 25 meters out, but four Australians pick him out.
28 mins: Another Australian corner, and Harry Souter heads it – it lacks power and is cleared, but credit to the Socceroos for getting into the danger zone.
26 min: Sure, Aaron Mooy and Nicolas Otamendi were technically teammates at Man City, except Mooy was farmed out on loan. Aziz Behich tried to break into the box but was thwarted by the Argentine’s three shirts.
24 min: Australia get their first corner of the night, but Aaron Mooy’s curling effort is easily headed away by Nicolas Otamendi.
22 mins: Argentina are still playing like hot favorites on paper, and Australia have enjoyed some long spells on the ball in the last few minutes.
18 mins: Finally an attacking intent from Australia! Jackson Irvine feeds Aziz Behich and he muscles his way to the by-line before clearing the ball out of play, a sign of promise for the Low Dogs.
15 mins: Yellow card – Jackson Irvine earns a booking for a niggly foul on the top of Marcos Acuna’s leg, and will miss the quarter-finals if his side get there with their second yellow of the competition.
14 mins: Mitch Duke and Riley McGree have yet to hit the same time zone as the ball for Australia up front.
9 min: It’s a rare sight – Lionel Messi mis-controls it on the edge of the box and Aaron Moye clears it away. Julian Alvarez then threatens Aziz Behich near the touchline but the referee allows it to continue.
7 min: Keanu Bacchus lets Lionel Messi know he is in for a strong challenge.
5 min: Australia are sitting too deep and letting Argentina knock them around, they’ll look to hit the break when they get the chance.
3 min: The ball hits Keanu Bacchus on the arm on the edge of the box – Argentina are claiming a penalty but the referee ignores their protests. It was very close, but given them.
2 min: Lots of KG so far, and the initial throw for the Australians near the Argentina box is deflected and the men in blue and white have played keep-ball ever since.
Kickoff: And we’ve got Australia leading us on! Huge support for Argentina inside the stadium, Australia will really be up against it.
3 minutes to kickoff: Anthem over, we’re ready!
5 minutes to kickoff: The teams are emerging, and we get a close-up of Jackson Irwin’s impressive mustache as he walks past the camera in the tunnel.
Argentina vs Australia lineup, team news
Argentina projected (4-3-3, right to left): 23. e. Martinez (GK) — 4. Montiel, 25. L. Martinez, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 24. Fernandez, 20. McAllister – 17. Gomez, 10. Messi, 9. Alvarez
With so little time to prepare, changes are likely for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, although he will be reluctant to make too many changes to the side that dominated against Poland.
With Cristian Romero’s fitness settled, he could be dropped for Lisandro Martinez, while Nicolas Tagliafico and Gonzalo Montiel could benefit from any freshness at full-back.
Lautaro Martínez is in contention to start up front but will be difficult to leave Julian Alvarez after scoring last time out. There could also be a late change in the forward line: Angel Di Maria is said to lack full fitness, meaning Alejandro Gomez could come in.
Australia fielded (4-4-1-1, right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) – 2 Degenek, 19. Souttar, 4. Rowles, 16. Behich – 7. Leckie, 13. Mooy, 22. Irvine, 11. Mabil – 10. Hrustic – 15. Duke.
Australia’s only lineup changes in Qatar have come at right-back, with Fran Karasic replacing Nathaniel Atkinson against Tunisia before Milos Degenek started in that position against Denmark.
Based on his strong performance last time out, Degenek has a strong chance of retaining his place, if he is fit enough to go again.
Further changes in the field seem more likely given the short turnaround, with No.10 Ajdin Hrustic yet to start a game at this World Cup and looking like a good option to freshen up the squad at the expense of Riley McGree.
Craig Goodwin was substituted at half-time against Denmark to cast some doubt on whether he would start against Argentina, with Avere Mabil emerging as a good option if needed.
Argentina vs Australia Live Stream, TV Channel
This round of 16 matches will be held at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. Here’s how you can see all the action in some key global regions.
| Country | Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming |
| USA | Sat, Dec. 3 | 14:00 ET | Fox, Telemundo | fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app, Telemundo Deportes site/app, Peacock |
| Canada | Sat, Dec. 3 | 14:00 ET | TSN 1, CTV, RDS (French) | TSN site/app, CTV app RDS app |
| UK | Sat, Dec. 3 | 19:00 GMT | BBC One | BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website |
| Australia | Sun, Dec. 4 | 06:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Sun, Dec. 4 | 00:30 IST | Sports 18 | Voot, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | Sun, Dec. 4 | 03:00 HKT | Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) | Now TV |
| Malaysia | Sun, Dec. 4 | 03:00 MYT | Astro FIFA World Cup 1 | Astro GO |
| Singapore | Sun, Dec. 4 | 03:00 SGT | StarHub TV FIFA World Cup, Singtel FIFA World Cup 141 | Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+, MeWatch |
| New Zealand | Sun, Dec. 4 | 08:00 NZDT | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW |