A clash with Poland, Saudi Arabia, or even Lionel Messi’s Argentina awaits after Australia held their nerve against the world No.10-ranked side to win 1-0 via a brilliant Mathew Leckie goal.
Arise, Sir Graham Arnold. Sir Mathew Leckie. They did it. They’ve done it. The Socceroos have stepped out of the long shadow of 2006’s “golden generation”, shocking Denmark 1-0 and defying a French capitulation on the other side of Doha to book a place in the World Cup’s round of 16.
Australia came in knowing a win or draw would get them into the final 16, assuming world champions France would be able to knock off Tunisia – but Les Bleus, who were already qualified, fielded a second-string team, and a 58th-minute goal from Tunisian skipper Wahbi Khazri at the Education City Stadium, news of which surely filtered through to an animated Arnold on the bench, meant only victory would do for the Socceroos.Right on the hour mark, somehow, they pulled ahead.
At the final whistle, utter disbelief from them all. Yet it was belief that got them here in the first place. The Danes, meanwhile, made three changes from the side that lost 2-1 to France, bringing in Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite, Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen and Club Brugge winger Andreas Skov Olsen.
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