Argentina goalkeeper: 'The goal is like a bucket of cold water'
"We controlled the game, but in the end there was a lot of pressure," Martinez said after the win at Ahmad bin Ali. "Australia's goal to shorten the score is a cold water that we did not expect. But it is also the time when the whole team shows fighting spirit."
Yesterday, Argentina did not create many chances against Australia's solid defense, but led 2-0 thanks to bright moments of individuals. 35 minutes, receiving the ball from the touch of midfielder Nicolas Otamendi, Lionel Messi cut the left foot to beat both the Australian defense and goalkeeper Matt Ryan. In the 57th minute, Julian Alvarez stole Ryan's ball in the penalty area and then shot into an empty net.
Argentina played moderately until the 77th minute, when Australia shortened the gap from the shot that hit Enzo Fernandez changed direction. The Asian representative put all his strength to attack in the last 10 minutes of the match, helping Argentina to have many dangerous counter-attacks. However, substitute striker Lautaro Martinez squandered at least two face-to-face opportunities.
Argentina almost had to pay a heavy price in the seventh minute of compensation. The 18-year-old young talent Garang Kuol turned around and couldn't beat Martinez in the face-to-face position. The referee blew the final whistle right after this situation. "Thank God I was able to help the team in the last situation," said the 30-year-old goalkeeper.
Like coach Lionel Scaloni, Martinez avoided mentioning his ambition to win the World Cup in 2022. He only emphasized "you have to dream big when you go to the World Cup" and dedicated the late save to the Argentine fans.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo De Paul considers the match at Ahmad bin Ali's stadium as proof that the teams attending the World Cup are getting narrower and more even. "This is a difficult World Cup. Today, I heard about statistics that no team won 9 absolute points in the group stage," the 28-year-old midfielder said.
De Paul said Argentina outperformed Australia many times and praised Messi for shining again to break the deadlock. He added: "We are very excited to be able to bring joy to the fans. I was also a fan when I was young, was very emotional when I saw the team and didn't stop cheering."
Julian Alvarez insists he always goes up to put pressure on the goalkeeper and is rewarded with a goal to double the score for Argentina. The 22-year-old striker also thinks that this goal is very important to help the home team have a safer and more comfortable advantage in the next minutes.
Lowering Australia, Argentina will reunite with the Netherlands - the team that won the US 3-1 in the previous match - in the quarterfinals at Lusail Stadium on December 9. In 1998, the Netherlands eliminated Argentina in the quarterfinals with a score of 2-1. However, in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, Messi and his teammates overcame the "Orange whirlwind" by penalty shootout.
