By Oyez Olatunde Rex
The round of 16 is the trickiest of every mundial. It’s the first real test of team resolve.
As FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar continues with the round of 16’s second match today, Argentina will be taking on Australia at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
Will Lionel Messi truly advance in his quest to end his national football career with a world Cup win? Today is probably the biggest hurdle on the way to this mission.
Now, both Argentina and Australia lost their opening matches in the group stages but were able to shrug the shocking defeats to make it out of their respective groups. This, for both teams are indications of the fighting spirits and team resolve.
Argentina definitely are out to improve on their last World Cup campaign by progressing past the round of 16.
Expectedly, the pressure is on the them to ensure Lionel Messi’s international career ends with a World Cup honor.
For the Australians, a world cup glory is not out of their desire. But they face the huge task of overcoming an Argentine team that parades the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Julian Alvarez. They know this and will try to find a way to get a victory.
The Argentines however seem to have more reasons to see today’s engagement as a make or mar.
Will the Messi magic swing the victory pendulum the way of the Argentines, many awaits the 7pm kick off time with Pundits divided over the odds and bets.
