Argentina isn’t blissful. Australia isn’t blissful.
In the meantime England and Senegal are conserving quiet as they take pleasure in some further relaxation.
The Socceroos play Lionel Messi’s Argentina within the spherical of 16 on Saturday evening native time (Sunday morning AEDT).
That’s simply three nights after the 2 groups performed their closing group video games.
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The Socceroos could have simply two days now to arrange for the equal largest recreation within the nation’s historical past.
It’s barely worse for Argentina who performed 4 hours after Australia so have even much less time to arrange.
In the meantime England and Senegal will play a day after the Socceroos – regardless of each groups enjoying their closing group video games on Tuesday.
A pleasant 5 evening hole between video games.
In fact this draw was finalised a very long time in the past, however for a Socceroos squad nobody anticipated to make it out of the group stage it hardly appeared like a difficulty.
Now Australia has little time to arrange for its first spherical of 16 recreation since going through eventual winners Italy in 2006.
Chatting with media as we speak, Socceroos defender Milos Degenek – who began at proper again towards Denmark – mentioned gamers aren’t robots.
“Imagine me, there’s going to be a variety of preparations as we speak and tomorrow earlier than that recreation, which once more is a really brief turnaround,” he mentioned.
“It’s one thing that FIFA wants to think about, that we’re not robots. We’re people and that we do have to get better and may’t simply play day after day, we want a break as nicely.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hit out at organisers as Argentina will play their final 16 tie on Saturday with solely two full days to relaxation.
“We’re blissful as we speak however I don’t wish to be euphoric as a result of I feel it’s loopy that we’re enjoying in simply over two days regardless of being winners of this group,” he mentioned.
“I can’t perceive it. It’s already (the early hours of) Thursday and we’ve two days after which we’ve to play it.”
He has some extent. France topped Australia’s group and will get to take pleasure in an additional day of relaxation earlier than enjoying on Sunday.
However talking after the Socceroos win towards Denmark, Graham Arnold wasn’t too involved concerning the brief turnaround.
“I’ve been round lengthy sufficient, crucial factor is restoration, (good) sleep and ensuring you’re prepared for the following recreation.”
In reality, Arnold joked the one reward his gamers would get for the Denmark win was water.
After England beat Wales 3-0 to prime Group B, supervisor Gareth Southgate mentioned he’ll enable his gamers a milkshake as a deal with.
However Arnold was having none of it.
When requested what he’d enable his gamers, he held up a bottle of water.
“Bottle of water,” he joked.
How a lot of an affect Australia’s final two video games has towards Argentina stays to be seen.
The Socceroos put in two unbelievable performances to get back-to-back clear sheets.
Australia appeared to be working out of legs within the second half towards Denmark, however as soon as Mat Leckie scored it was the Socceroos who completed wanting the fitter.
