Lionel Messi, look out for Australia.
The Socceroos are by to the second spherical of the World Cup after a exceptional 1-0 win towards all odds towards Denmark.
Not dangerous for a crew that misplaced 4-1 within the opening sport to France.
The win means Australia has completed second in Group D on six factors – the Socceroos’ greatest ever group stage effort in six World Cups.
Australia will play within the second spherical for simply the second time ever, with a date with Messi’s Argentina all however sure because the Group C video games immediately attain their conclusion.
Messi’s males took a 2-0 lead within the 67th minute towards Poland and if it stays that means they’ll end prime of the group and be Australia’s date.
Poland is hanging on to second place on its honest play file. Mexico is main Saudi Arabia 2-0 and has an equal objective distinction to the Poles however a poorer disciplinary file within the match.
No matter who we face, Australia’s match can be at 6am on Sunday morning.
Australia needed to do it the exhausting means.
The Socceroos had been beneath the pump from the opening whistle towards a Denmark crew that needed to win to make the second spherical.
For 60 minutes, the Danes dominated possession however simply couldn’t discover a means by.
A draw was wanting adequate, however then catastrophe occurred within the different Group D match.
France – who had rested 9 gamers for the ultimate sport with qualification assured – conceded to Tunisia. Impulsively a draw wasn’t sufficient for Australia.
Australia simply wanted an opportunity. And on the hour mark it got here.
Tunisia had simply scored within the different sport, that means a draw was now not sufficient. Denmark continued to push, till the play broke down and Australia obtained the ball.
Mitchell Duke fed Riley McGree, who launched winger Mat Leckie. Leckie appeared round, however was on their own so went on his personal.
Leckie turned Denmark’s Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen inside out, and squeezed it previous keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
It was the objective Australia wanted.
Quickly after Denmark thought that they had a penalty when Harry Souttar was dominated to have fouled Jesper Lindstrom, however an off-side flag saved what would have been a harsh name.
McGree was taken off and one other defender in Bailey Wright added to offer Australia 5 on the again for a nervous end.
However the Socceroos appeared to have the ability to climate any storm from Denmark, because the crew in purple grew pissed off – realizing they wanted two targets to advance.
Within the 88th minute, man mountain defender Souttar once more got here to the rescue – like he did within the Tunisia win – sliding in to disclaim the Danes a late probability.
Leckie was introduced off a minute later to an enormous cheer from the small pocket of Aussie supporters.
In a last-ditch effort, Schmeichel even went up for 2 late corners for Denmark.
However to no avail, Australia held on.
Australia made only one change from the crew that beat Tunisia 1-0, with Milos Degenek changing into the third completely different participant to begin at proper again.
And identical to the ultimate 45 minutes towards Tunisia, Australia was beneath fixed assault from Denmark within the opening half.
Denmark completed the half with double the possession of the Socceroos, however was unable to discover a means by.
In an indication of simply how beneath the pump the Socceroos had been, goalkeeper Mat Ryan completed the half with essentially the most passes.
However for essentially the most half Australia might deal with the Danish assaults.
Degenek blocked what appeared like a positive objective within the tenth minute, and Ryan appeared protected in targets with a very good save within the eleventh minute.
For Australia the probabilities had been few and much between, with no real threatening assaults.
For the second half, Arnold introduced on a defensive minded midfielder in Keanu Baccus for winger Craig Goodwin.
Initially revealed as Who do the Socceroos play subsequent on the World Cup after Denmark thriller?
