Argentina national football team vs Australia national football team lineups

Below is a detailed, SEO-friendly breakdown of Argentina national football team vs Australia national football team lineups from their Round of 16 appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including starting XIs, formation notes, and tactical commentary on how this lineup affected their game.

On 3 December 2022, Argentina and Australia met in the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina emerged victorious by scoring 2-1 to progress. MyKhel, Wikipedia, Sky Sports all provided excellent coverage on this contest.

Why the Lineups Matter

The Argentina national football team vs Australia national football team lineups provide insight into each side’s expected approach: Argentina looking to control possession and create opportunities, while Australia set up with compact defense and focused on transitions. Studying starting XIs gives an understanding of each team’s plan for how their respective game would develop.

Argentina National Football Team Line-up

Here is how Argentina lined up on their side of the field.

Position	Player	Roles in the Game
Goalkeeper	Emiliano Martinez	Served as both shot-stopper and sweep keeper, providing crucial shot blocking/sweeping functions during games.
Right Back	Nahuel Molina	Provided width and attacking support.
Centre Back	Cristian Romero	Organized defense by physicality as an organizer of defence.
Centre Back	Nicolas Otamendi	Brings experience and aerial presence.
Left Back	Marcos Acuna	Excels at attacking fullback positions.
Midfielder	Rodrigo de Paul	Excels at ball winning, linking defence with attack.
Midfielder	Enzo Fernandez	Provides energy across the pitch by pressing opponents.
Midfielder	Alexis Mac Allister	Displayed creative passing and movement.
Right Wing	Angel Di Maria	Provided speed, wide drifts and chance creation.
Striker	Julian Alvarez	Pressurised defenders while creating goal threats.
Left Wing / Forward	Lionel Messi	Served as central play-maker and goal scorer – two important factors when considering formation and key notes.

Formation Used

4-3-3 (with flexibility to change as needed).

Key Notes:

Messi has an unconventional style, dropping deeper to create more space for movement and composition.
Molina and Acuna employed offensive strategies designed to stretch Australia’s defence.
Mac Allister provided both creativity and work rate alongside De Paul and Fernandez.
Argentina aimed to control possession, exploit channels, and leverage star quality.

Australia National Football Team Line-up

Here are Australia’s starting lineups in that match.

Position	Player	Role in the Game
Goalkeeper	Matt Ryan	Veteran keeper at the back, leading by example with excellent goalkeeping.
Right Back	Milos Degenek	Defensive solidity and cover on the right side.
Centre Back	Harry Souttar	Tall, aerial strength, key in defence.
Centre Back	Kye Rowles	Tackler, defensive organiser.
Left Back	Aziz Behich	Focused on defense with occasional offensive overlaps.
Midfielder	Aaron Mooy	Deep-lying playmaker and tempo setter.
Midfielder	Jackson Irvine	Physical presence in midfield.
Midfielder	Keanu Baccus	Provides work rate and defensive cover.
Midfielder	Riley McGree	Provides attacking intent linking forwards.
Striker	Mitchell Duke	Target man and hold-up play.
Striker	Matthew Leckie	Pace, movement behind.

Formation & Key Notes

Formation: 4-4-2

Australia’s strategy:

Remain compact, defend deep, and absorb pressure.
Midfield designed to block passing lanes and intercept passes.
Attack based on transitions: quick balls to Leckie/Duke, using space between Argentina’s fullbacks.
Given Argentina’s wide playing style, set pieces and aerial duels were especially crucial.

Tactical Match-Ups: How the Lineups Shaped the Game

Argentina took advantage of their lineup to their advantage during this game.

Lionel Messi’s superstar status enabled Argentina to break through tight defensive formation.
Fullbacks provided Argentina with much-needed width.
The midfield trio offered control and flexibility: Mac Allister for creativity; De Paul and Fernandez as workhorses.
Starting XI was clear about their game plan – to dominate possession, press high, and attack through wings.

Australia responded with their own structured lineup:

Souttar and Rowles used height to combat aerial attacks and set pieces.
Mooy and Irvine attempted to reduce Argentina’s pace.
Attack was swift and focused on counters, long balls, and transitional play.
The lineup signified an aggressive defensive posture: defend, absorb, and exploit mistakes.

Match Summary:
Argentina dominated possession and chances early, leading to Messi’s early goal and Alvarez scoring again shortly afterwards. Australia’s lineup held strong for long stretches but the quality difference showed, leading to Enzo Fernandez (own goal) making it 2-1 for Argentina – as reported by The Guardian.

Argentina vs Australia lineups illustrated the stark difference between teams designed to dominate and those built to defend and frustrate.

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Conclusion

The Argentina national football team vs Australia national football team lineups illustrate two different game plans. Argentina aimed to dominate with creativity, control, and attack while Australia focused more on defence, structure, and exploiting moments. Argentina ultimately triumphed – but studying both lineups gives fans valuable insight into why.