sport news Australia coach Graham Arnold claims his side will go 'all guns blazing' ... trends now
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In Australia they are making much of their football team’s history of matches against Argentina.
They beat them once, 4-1 in 1988, in something called the Bicentennial Gold Cup in Sydney. In 1993 Argentina edged past them in a two-legged play-off for the following year’s World Cup. Socceroos manager Graham Arnold played in that one.
Last year, meanwhile, Australia’s Under 23 team beat Argentina 2-0 at the Olympics in Tokyo and Arnold was the coach.
Australia are hoping to upset the odds after qualifying for the World Cup round of 16
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold insists his side will go 'all guns blazing' against Argentina
So in Australia they are clutching at historical straws and telling themselves tonight’s last-16 meeting in Doha could see some version of history repeating itself. Arnold, however, is grateful for just one thing.
‘It’s good we have a short turnaround between the last game and this one,’ he said. ‘It’s only three days. I believe it’s an advantage for us because it means we don’t sit for five days wondering and thinking about the opposition.’
Tonight’s game at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium should be one of the tournament’s great mismatches. Arnold’s team, who beat Tunisia and Denmark to reach this stage, do not have a single player from a major European league.
Sitting next to the coach yesterday was defender Harry Souttar of Stoke City. It will be his job to look after Lionel Messi. At least he will have a height
