Argentina defeated Australia 2-0 in an international friendly at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing. Australians watching at home would have been happy with the Socceroos’ performance, but a noticeable lack of world class attacking options was evidently holding the team back from competing at Argentina’s level.
Over 67,000 Chinese fans filled the stadium to watch Messi lead the reigning World Champions against the Socceroos. Seemingly every person in the stadium wore an Argentina kit and the Argentinian players in turn wore Chinese names on the back if their playing kits. This highly promoted, big money friendly capitalised on Argentina’s (and Messi’s) current popularity and the Socceroos will be pleased that they managed to get involved. For Australia, the game was an opportunity to (re)play World Class opposition on a huge global stage, with supposedly tens of millions of fans watching the Chinese broadcast.
Australia took the game to Argentina
Graham Arnold used the opportunity to give young players big game experience, and many of them took it in their stride. In particular, Bos looked great on and off the ball. He was smart and quick on attacking breaks and didn’t look out of place defending the best forward line in International Football. Atikinson was confident and calm on his return to international football (following his nightmare World Cup outing defending France’s Mbappe) and he contributed key interceptions throughout the game. Baccus in the midfield was also a stand out, playing the ball reliably and creating attacking threats. The Socceroos played confidently and looked to create chances from possession rather than play on the counter, which encouraging for fans to see.
Lack of forward quality blunts Socceroos
Australia dictated the play in the midfield for long stretches of the match, in particular in the first half, but outside of a couple of threatening chances which forced saves from Martinez (to stop Duke’s effort first half and Baccus’ effort in the second) the Socceroo’s forward line struggled to threaten the Argentine defence.
Maclaren (29) was largely ineffective and again failed to prove that he is an effective player outside of Melbourne City’s dominating set up. Leckie (32) looked slow on the field and failed to have an impact. Duke (32) posed the squad’s biggest threat but was unable to cut through the Argentinian world class defence. Borello (27) came on late and it was clear he was out of his depth. Australia will need higher class players up front to threaten in big games, and lack mature options at the moment. Graham Arnold will hope young forwards Kuol (18), Irankunda (17), Tilio (21) and Robertson (20) can start making more of an impact at club level ahead of the Asian Cup in 2024.
Argentina had no such problems, demonstrating their class up front despite being contained for large stretches of the match by the Aussies. Messi scored in just the second minute, with an unstoppable in-swinging finish too good for an outstretched Mat Ryan. The Australians responded competitively and contained the Argentines well but in the 68th minute a pinpoint cross from De Paul found an unmarked Pezzella who doubled the World Champion’s lead. It was an encouraging display from the Socceroos who despite attempting an attractive and confident game plan failed to threaten up front. The Argentines were a class above the Aussies and played freely in the international friendly environment with moments of brilliance that the Aussies had no answer for.
The Beautiful Game 