The secrets of Australia: a team that challenges Argentina focusing on the epic and the counterattack

Australia has nothing to lose against Argentina and everything to win.

It is a selection without noble figures and with a squad whose total price is around 38 million euros, against the 645 that Argentine players are worth.

It is in his humility and team spirit that he can become strong. And this is where your technician points to Graham Arnoldformer striker who played for Australia in the historic playoff against Argentina in 1993, the only “World Cup” in the history between the two teams.

Australia made their debut in Qatar with a sensational victory against France (4-1) but then managed to keep a clean sheet and chain two consecutive 1-0 victories against Tunisia and Denmark becoming one of the surprises.

His game doesn’t show great complications: He became solid in defence, bet on the counterattack and paid off. The stationary ball is another of his weapons. Everything indicates that against Argentina he will do the same: leave the ball to Messi and company, approach from behind with a line of four defenders and another of five midfielders, and try to attack into spacesomething he produced the perfect storm surprising and eliminating Denmark with the goal of Mathew Leckie, who in a personal adventure took on Danish centre-backs and defined smoothly and crossed to defeat Kasper Schmeichel.

The impotence of Denmark and the iron defense of Australia did the rest. Goalkeeper Matt Ryan is reliable and the height stands out against the background: Milos Degenek (1.87), Harry Souttar (1.98), Kye Rowles (1.85) and, less, Aziz Dehich (1.70). In the middle joins Jackson Irvien (1.89). The fact is that Argentina made few crosses and played from below, with Messi, Di María and now Julián Álvarez.

We will see how the match unfolds on Saturday, but the truth is that Australia have grown strong in adversity and thus forged their mystique. Football has always been a second-hand sport in his country, but this is the fifth consecutive World Cup he participates in, after his first time in 1974 (he finished 14th). In the last two World Cups he finished in 30th place.

It is a selection that everything costs a lot and in that epic there is one of its virtues. We recall that to get to Qatar they beat Peru on penalties in the playoffs, but it should also be remembered that first they had to face two qualifying rounds, in the second, group B, they finished third behind Saudi Arabia and Japan. This can be a reference. Against the team that beat Argentina, Australia drew 0-0 and lost 1-0. Japan won both games: 2-1 and 2-0. Then they played a play-off against UAE (beat them 2-1) and only then ended up with Peru. A long way.

Australia occupies the 38th position in the FIFA rankings and has no players who stand out in the big leagues. Just the midfielder Ajdin Hrustic, who took over in the last few games, plays for Hellas Verona and has a past at Eintracht Frankfurt. Mathew Leckie, the hero against Denmark, plays for Melbourne City in his country. Meanwhile, another of his figures, striker Mitchell Duke, plays for Fagiano Okayama.

Nothing to lose and everything to gain. Hardly anyone believed in Australia, but he has already gone to Denmark and dreams of writing another story in Qatar.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.