Argentina 2-1 Australia: World Cup 2022, last 16 – as it happened

Jonathan Liew has filed his match report, so I’m going to wrap up this blog. We’ll have a few more features on the site in the next hour or two.

Thanks for your company and emails. Congratulations to Argentina – and to Australia, who have excellend themselves at this World Cup. Good day/night.

And here’s Graham Arnold’s verdict

I just hope that everyone back in Australia really respects what we’ve done and are proud of us as well. We took it to them. I felt that we finished off well. We had a great chance at the end there to equalise. I’ve got to be very, very proud of the boys. Just so grateful at the effort they’ve put in for me.

I don’t think he has any worries on that score.

A very emotional Jackson Irvine speaks

We gave it everything. Just like we have every minute of this competition. So proud of all the players and the staff. Yeah, just not enough on the day. I think we did everything we could. We stood up to be compact and disciplined in our shape. We were excellent defensively we gave up very little until obviously the end.

You have to have a go with the last 15 minutes. I think we did everything we could to give ourselves a chance in the game. When Argentina are celebrating like this, victory against Australia, I think it shows what kind of opposition we gave them today.

It’s difficult to comprehend everything at the moment. It’s all quite raw. Erm... But yeah, I hope we made everyone proud.

Argentina were too good for an admirable but limited Australian side, who nonetheless leave the tournament with honour. In an surprising development, Lionel Messi was the star. He enlivened a dreadful first half with a fine goal and gave Australia the runaround after the break. The love-in might be slightly weird at times – Messi could stink out a lift and everyone in there would say thank you - but he really was majestic in the second half.

Julian Alvarez scored the second goal after a mistake from Mat Ryan, but Australia gave Argentina big scare at the end. Craig Goodwin’s wayward shot deflected in off Enzo Fernandez, Aziz Behich almost equalised after an amazing solo run and finally the teenager Garang Kuol was denied brilliantly by Emi Martinez in the 97th minute.

Peep peep! Argentina will play the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-final, just like they did in 1998.

90+7 min: What a chance for Australia! A cross from the left falls nicely for Kuol, who rolls Tagliafico and hammers a close-range shot on the turn that is superbly saved by Martinez! Oh my goodness.

90+6 min Argentina are seeing this game out very comfortably. Australia have the ‘what if’ of Behich’s chance, but overall there’s no doubt that Argentina deserve to win.

90+4 min Palacios and Messi have shots blocked in quick succession. Then Ryan kicks away Martinez’s deflected shot and Messi puts the rebound well wide. He couldn’t sort his feet out quickly enough.

90+3 min: Fine save by Ryan! Messi, who has been terrific in the second half, puts Lautaro Martinez through on goal again, and this time Ryan makes an excellent save low his left.

Moments later, Messi cuts inside and whips a curling shot just over the bar.

90+3 min Souttar is up front now, but Australia are struggling to generate any attacking momentum. A set-piece is probably their best chance of an equaliser.

90+1 min There will be seven minutes of added time.

90 min A long throw is headed across the area dangerously by Souttar. Maclaren can only knock it up in the air and Emi Martinez claims. He’s challenged by Souttar in the process, and a few of the Argentina players go looking for a row. It’s all posturing.

89 min: What a chance for Lautaro Martinez! Messi leads a three-on-three break, bides his time and plays a perfect pass to the unmarked Martinez, 12 yards out. He opens his body and skies it.

88 min After a long spell of possession, De Paul stabs a nice pass down the inside-right channel towards Lautaro Martinez. He snatches at what was only a half-chance anyway, dragging a shot on the turn well wide of the far post.

87 min Argentina waste a minute or so by keeping the ball away from Australia. Excellent game-management, as we are contractually obliged to call it.

86 min There should be a fair bit of added time, at least five minutes. Australia need one last chance.

83 min Romero goes down holding his face after a challenge with Kuol. He was caught, though probably not heavily enough to justify rolling around like an eeijt.

82 min All of a sudden, Australia fancy this. Argentina were in complete control until Fernandez’s own goal.

81 min: WHAT A RUN FROM BEHICH! That, no exaggeration, was almost one of the great World Cup goals. The left-back Aziz Behich surged infield from the left, slaloming past four players before hitting a close-range shot that was superbly blocked by the stretching Lisandro Martinez. I’m pretty sure that shot was going in as well.

The resulting corner is headed away to Hrustic, who curls over from 20 yards.

80 min: Double substitution for Argentina Gonzalo Montiel and Exequiel Palacios replace Naheul Molina and Alexis Mac Allister.

78 min Goodwin’s shot was going well wide, so I’m sure it will eventually go down as an own goal by Fernandez.

Australia are back in the game! Behich’s cross was cleared as far as Goodwin, 25 yards out. He smashed an errant shot that took a huge deflecftion off Enzo Fernandez and flew into the far corner.

Now then!

75 min Tagliafico gallops onto a nice pass from Lautaro Martinez and drags a cross shot well wide.

75 min It’s ending with a bit of a whimper, but Australia’s World Cup campaign has been an unmitigated triumph. The performance against a good Denmark team was outstanding, and with a kinder draw (at one stage it looked like they would be facing Poland or Saudi Arabia tonight) they could have made history by reaching the quarter-finals.

74 min “The point about concentration in the 62nd minute,” begins Julian Menz. “The same happened to the US. There is still a gulf in class between the top European and South American/even African nations and the likes of the US and Australia. It only takes a second or two to decide a match, and naivety is punished at this level.”

73 min: Triple substitution for Australia Jamie Maclaren, Fran Karcic and Garang Kuol replace Milos Degenek, Mitchell Duke and Mathew Leckie.

72 min: Double substitution for Argentina Lautaro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico replace Julian Alvarez, whose substitution is a compliment, and tbhe equally excellent Marcos Acuna. He looks a terrific player.

70 min “On the subject of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” says Phil Podolsky, “there’s a brilliant bit from a recent Sid Lowe interview with the Brazilian Ronaldo.

“‘I think there is a very, very special group where you have Diego, Messi, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pelé, Van Basten, Ronaldinho. I would include myself. Let the fans say, let them debate it in the bars. But you can’t rank them, can’t compare generations.’

“IMHO this is simply the correct way to think about this: there’s a group of great players that can be expanded, though not ad infinitum, but certain names cannot be left out. Anything beyond is a matter of taste.”

Yeah I really like this perspective. Football has changed so much since Maradona’s time – the pitches, the thuggery of defenders, even the primacy of the World Cup – that it’s very difficult to compare.

69 min Acuna eases Degenek off the ball and surges into the area, only to be thwarted the miserable shrill of the referee’s whistle. I’m not sure that was a foul.

68 min “Nothing worse than goalkeeper error,” says Liisa Sletzinger. “So, so painful to watch. I’m remembering back to 2006 when the ball slowly dribbled through the England goalie’s legs on a pass from his own defender. If I remember correctly… that was aeons ago.”

It didn’t quite go through his legs, but that aside your memory is spot on.

66 min Acuna shapes a gorgeous, bouncing cross that just evades Alvarez; moments later, Messi shoots high and wide from 25 yards.

65 min A thrilling surge from Messi. He leaves three players behind in the middle of the pitch, wriggles into the area and is eventually challenged by the last man, Souttar I think.

63 min Goodwin’s volleyed cross is well defended by Lisandro Martinez at the near post.

62 min “So, so sad,” says Michael Hayen. “A silly free kick leading to a goal and then Ryan’s error. Has undone the generally excellent display from the Socceroos.”

I suppose it’s a reminder of the level of concentration you need at this level. For 99 per cent of the game, Australia have defended immaculately.

60 min Julian Alvarez wasn’t in the team at the start of the tournament, with many people backing Lisandro Lautaro Martinez to win the Golden Boot. Life moves pretty fast.

59 min: Double substitution for Australia Craig Goodwin and Ajdin Hrustic replace Keanu Baccus, who was excellent, and Riley McGree.

Ryan received a backpass from Rowles and was immediately challenged by De Paul. He dribbled past him but was then robbed on the blindside by Alvarez, who pushed the ball away from Ryan and dragged a shot on the turn into the empty net. Superb opportunism from Alvarez, one of the Argentina players who is good at pressing, and now Australia are in all sorts.

Julian Alvarez makes it two after a sad error from Mat Ryan!

56 min Australia have a bit of a stick-or-twist dilemma. They can’t just watch Argentina pass the ball around, as they have in the first 11 minutes of the second half, but equally they don’t want to go too early and risk being two or three down before the last 10 minutes.

55 min “That ‘lack of recovery time’ surely hampers Leo Messi,” says Mark Raven. “Lemme guess: you used to crunch budget numbers for Liz and The Kwaz, right?”

Are you a moron or a troll? Genuine question.

53 min Australia are fighting hard but they can’t lay a glove on Argentina. Saying which, Otamendi’s backpass is a bit short and Emi Martinez only just gets to it before Duke.

52 min “Argentina’s kit is one of the most difficult to mess up - wide sky blue and white vertical stripes on the front and back - but somehow adidas have managed it this year,” says Andy Flintoff. “The three narrow stripes down the middle of the back look like each shirt has been badly sewn together.”

51 min Yes, Argentina have switched to 3-5-2, as they did (I think) in the second half against Mexico last week.

50 min After a lovely passing move, all the way through Australia’s press, Messi slips as he shoots from the edge of the D. It takes a deflection and rolls through to Ryan.

50 min: Argentina substitution Lisandro Martinez replaces Papu Gomez. Hmm, does that mean a switch to 3-5-2?

48 min “The speakers in my living room are shaking from the frenetic chanting of what appears to be tens of thousands Argentinians transplanted directly from La Bombonera,” writes Marc. “It is surreal as I feels like a home game for Argentina. How many Argentina supporters are in this stadium? It must be shaking. Can’t imagine how a BRA v ARG would sound and feel like.”

Can you imagine. Unless you count the 1978 brawl, which was a semi-final in nature if not name, they have never met in a semi-final or final of a World Cup.

48 min Emi Martinez faffs around in possession and is very nearly robbed by Mitchell Duke. Martinez’s clearance brushing the stretching Duke’s boot and ran to safety.

47 min “Argentina seem incapable of fast breaking,” says Zafar Sobhan. “Every time they get the ball they bring it back and slow it down, giving the defence the time to get set. Not only does it make for dull football but they are just making it exponentially harder for themselves to score. This is why they create so few chances. Good thing for them that they are so clinical but it’s no way to live.”

On this form I can’t see them winning it, but we’ve said that about a few teams down the years. Italy in 1982 are the obvious example.