JAKARTA Australian national team defender Milos Degenek admits that he is not afraid of Lionel Messi. La Pulga is still considered like humans in general like other players.
Australia will face Argentina in the last 16 of the Qatar 2022 World Cup on Sunday, December 4. Socceroos will compete in the knockout system of the four-year tournament for the first time since 2006.
"I've always loved Messi and I think he's the greatest ever playing. [But] it's not an honor to play against him because he's just an ordinary man, like the rest of us, "Degenek said as quoted by CGTN, Friday, December 2, 2022.
Australia's journey in Group D didn't actually start well. They lost to France 1-4 in the first game before winning over Tunisia and Denmark with the same score 1-0 to qualify from the group stage as runners up.
Australia's attack line is not the main weapon that managed to get them through to the knockout stages, but rather a solid defense. To that end, this defense will be tested by Messi who has won seven Ballon d'Ors.
Just like Australia, Argentina also lost their first match in Group C against Saudi Arabia, but managed to qualify with group title after beating Mexico and Poland with an identical score of 2-0.
"It's a 90-minute game, maybe 120. And it's a knockout system game. Because no one expected us to be here, we [got] give everything to them and there was no pressure for us," said Mathew Leckie, who scored for Australia to beat Denmark.
"It will be a difficult match, playing against the best footballer ever. [But] this is 11 against 11. There are no 11 Messi, there is only one," he added.
When he last appeared in the round of 16, 2006, Australia also performed solidly. They made Italy unable to score for normal time before Francesco Totti's penalty goal in extra minutes.
#Qatar2022 #Australia 🇦🇺 será el próximo rival de la Selección @Argentina 🇦🇷 en octavos de final.📝 https://t.co/8CpIQ4j7JV pic.twitter.com/rl6fKpMYfL
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) December 1, 2022
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