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AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Lionel Messi says he won’t have fun his private milestone of reaching 1,000 skilled matches after serving to Argentina to a 2-1 victory over Australia within the World Cup spherical of 16, however as an alternative admits his overriding emotion was aid at having come by way of a bodily take a look at simply 48 hours after their final group stage match.
Messi, 35, scored Argentina’s first in opposition to the Socceroos with a splendidly labored aim within the first half. Julian Alvarez then doubled the lead within the second half, however Argentina had been made to carry on within the ultimate throes of the match as Australia scored and threatened an equaliser late on.
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The match got here simply two days after they beat Poland of their ultimate match of the group stage to safe their spot within the knockouts.
Messi was once more in impressed type and was named Participant of the Match. However regardless of reaching one more profession milestone and surpassing Diego Maradona’s mark of eight World Cup objectives, Messi will not be recognising this private achievement.
As a substitute, he’s simply delighted at having come by way of a bodily take a look at so quickly after their earlier match.
“I’m very completely happy for taking one other step ahead, attaining one other goal,” Messi mentioned postmatch.
“It was a really sturdy and tough match — we knew it was going to be this manner. We did not have a lot time to relaxation up and we had been involved as we knew it was going to be a bodily match and so they had been very sturdy.”
When requested on Argentine TV whether or not he was going to have fun his 1,000th match, Messi answered: “No, actually no. This was a troublesome sport, robust sport, we did not have a lot relaxation, we had probably not recovered effectively. It was a really bodily sport as effectively.
“After we came upon we needed to play once more in three days, we mentioned it was loopy and never sufficient relaxation, however on the similar time we wished to be right here for what it seems like and for what this represents and for our followers.”
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Australia coach Graham Arnold mentioned his gamers did effectively to comprise Messi, however ultimately, his class shone by way of.
“He is unimaginable,” Arnold mentioned. “One of many best ever. We actually labored laborious to not be in awe of him, due to the nice participant he’s. However wow, he is exceptional.
“I had the privilege of enjoying in opposition to Diego Maradona, and now teaching in opposition to Messi — they’re each fantastic gamers and Argentina must be so proud and completely happy to have gamers of that calibre.”
Consideration for Argentina now shifts to their World Cup quarterfinal in opposition to the Netherlands on Dec. 9.
“At the moment we noticed their match [against the United States],” Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni mentioned.
“Most likely they do not play as fantastically as earlier Dutch groups — however they’ve sturdy factors, and weaknesses we’ll attempt to use. It is going to be a phenomenal sport with two historic nationwide groups. We hope we’ll qualify.”
Argentina will hold an in depth eye on the health of a number of of their key gamers within the run-up to going through the Dutch. Papu Gomez picked up an ankle harm in opposition to Australia, however they’re assured of getting Angel di Maria match once more as he recovers from a quad harm.
“Hopefully Di Maria will be capable of play, he wasn’t match as we speak,” Scaloni mentioned. “It is at all times tempting to carry him on when he is on the bench, however I do not suppose we would have helped anybody by bringing him on. We hope he continues evolving and makes it to the subsequent match.”
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