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Argentina and Australia qualified for the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup on Wednesday, but they were not delighted about it.
The two sides will face battle on Saturday night in Qatar, just three days after their final group stage matches, leaving them only two days of recovery before an elimination encounter.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters, “We are thrilled today, but I don’t want to be ecstatic because I believe it’s insane that we’re playing in just over two days despite being the group champions.”
“I cannot comprehend it. It is already [the early hours of] Thursday, and we have two days until the game.”
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni during the 30 November 2022 victory against Poland.
Getty Pictures
New York Post coverage of the whole 2022 World Cup tournament.
Argentina qualified for the Round of 16 on Wednesday by defeating Poland 2-0 to win Group C. It escaped a dreadful group stage exit following a startling upset loss to Saudi Arabia in what is anticipated to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance.
Australia defeated Denmark 1-0 on Wednesday to secure second place in Group D, behind France.
“Believe me, there will be a lot of preparations today and tomorrow before that game,” Australian defender Milos Degenek told reporters on Thursday. “Again, it’s a very quick turnaround.”
“FIFA must take into account the fact that we are not machines. We are human beings who require rest and cannot play continuously; we too require a break.”
The Argentina soccer squad prior to a World Cup game.
Australia advanced in the World Cup with a win over Denmark.
AFP Images via Getty
While Argentina and Australia had to swiftly switch gears for their elimination-round encounter, other teams had far more respite. For example, England and Senegal played their final group-stage encounter on Tuesday and will not face each other until Sunday.
»Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni is enraged by the ‘crazy’ World Cup schedule«