After their brilliant 2-0 win over Poland in the FIFA World Cup 2022's last group stage game on Thursday, Argentina have secured a berth in the Round of 16 along with eight other teams. Argentina captain and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has said that the game in the knockout against Australia will not be easy and termed it as ‘very difficult’. Argentina outclassed Poland in a 2-0 affair at Stadium 974 to top Group C and progress to the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to the press after the match against Poland, the Argentinian skipper made plain that it won't be a cinch for Argentina against Socceroos who have qualified for the knockouts only for the second time in their football history after edging Denmark with a 1-0 win.
“The match against Australia is going to be very difficult. Anyone can beat anyone, everything is very even. We have to prepare the game in the best way as we always do,” said Messi.
The PSG forward added that his team is taking it one game at a time and looking to carry on with the same winning tempo.
"We must be calm and go game by game. Now another World Cup begins and hopefully we can continue to maintain what we did today," Messi added.
On Thursday, the 35-year-old ace footballer missed a penalty as he become the only player to miss two penalties in a World Cup just at the stroke of the first half and Argentina missed a golden opportunity to go back in the tunnel with a goal lead.
The Argentinian star also said that he was cross about it with himself. However, despite the rare penalty miss within the starting minute of the second half Alexis Mac Allister scored a goal sweeping the ball with his right foot and getting Argentina ahead in the tug of war, and soon it was Julian Alvarez who doubled the Argentinian lead.
"I was angry for having missed the penalty, but the team came out stronger after that mistake of mine. We knew that once the first goal went in, it would change the game," Messi further added.
