DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Australia’s World Cup journey got here to an finish in opposition to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina. A 2-1 loss on the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium matched its best-ever efficiency at soccer’s largest event by reaching the spherical of 16 for under the second time in its historical past.EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCEDrawn in Group D with defending champion France and Euro 2020 semifinalists Denmark, the Socceroos had a tricky job simply to achieve the spherical of 16. A 4-1 loss to France in its opening recreation was a worrying begin.Again-to-back wins in opposition to Tunisia and Denmark noticed the Aussies decide up their highest factors complete in a gaggle stage and emulate the efficiency from 2006 by qualifying for the knockouts.Few would have anticipated Australia to get previous Argentina, nevertheless it gave Messi and co. an actual fright with a late fightback Saturday.“Everybody stated earlier than we got here right here we had been the worst Socceroo workforce ever to qualify for a World Cup, however that’s gone now,” stated coach Graham Arnold.WHO’S OUT?Arnold’s contract is up and his future is unsure.“I would like a break, a relaxation and little doubt I’ll have some good discussions with the organisation,” he stated after the match.Six of the gamers who made the sphere for Australia in opposition to Argentina are of their 30s, with Aaron Mooy the oldest of these at 32.Mitchell Duke, who scored the winner in opposition to Tunisia, is 31 and so is Matthew Leckie, who struck in opposition to Denmark.What number of of these will nonetheless be round in 4 years’ time stays to be seen.WHO’S NEXT?Garang Kuol, at 18 years and 79 days, grew to become the youngest participant to look in a World Cup knockout match since Pele in 1958.And {the teenager}, who’s becoming a member of Premier League membership Newcastle in January, was shut to creating himself an Australian hero when forcing a late save from Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez.Stoke defender Harry Souttar, at 24, is one other who may have a vivid future after enhancing his fame with spectacular performances on the World Cup.Arnold used his post-match information convention to foyer for a nationwide soccer growth centre in Australia to provide extra high-quality gamers.“We have to spend cash and get assist from authorities to place some cash within the recreation to assist develop children,” he stated. “One factor I’d actually like to see earlier than I end up in soccer is that the federal government construct us a home. We don’t have a house. We’ve been homeless since I’ve been concerned for 37 years within the nationwide groups.”WHAT’S NEXT?Australia has a fast probability to construct on the success of the World Cup when it returns to Qatar for the 2023 Asian Cup.It received the event in 2015, however will face robust competitors, with Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia additionally qualifying.The performances of these nations, together with Australia, on the World Cup is proof of the rising energy of soccer within the area.___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___
What’s subsequent for Australia after World Cup exit?
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