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Socceroos' World Cup heroics have united Australia - Graham Arnold

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Milos Degenek: Messi is the greatest, but he's human (0:14)

Australia and Columbus Crew defender Milos Degenek talks about his admiration for Lionel Messi before facing Argentina in the round of 16 at the World Cup. (0:14)

Australia boss Graham Arnold and his side have already surpassed most sober predictions of their 2022 World Cup and, in doing so, united a normally disinterested nation behind them. But with an even bigger task awaiting them in the form of Lionel Messi and Argentina, the 59-year-old coach wants more.

The Socceroos will take part in the round of 16 for just the second time in their history on Saturday evening when they take on La Albiceleste at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, kickoff taking place in the early hours of Sunday morning back in Australia.

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If that venue sounds familiar, it should: the same stadium hosted Andrew Redmayne's "Grey Wiggle" heroics that sealed Australia's penalty shootout win and qualification.

A potentially seminal sliding doors moment for football in Australia, six months on from that game and the country, normally consumed by AFL, rugby, or cricket, has become enthralled by the Socceroos' exploits in Doha.

The live site at Melbourne's Federation Square has taken on iconic status, and politicians around the country, have announced similar initiatives.

"Seeing some of the reactions at Fed Square again and the 'Sacky' at Rozelle [The Sackville Hotel, close to Arnold's home] and in pubs around the place. Seeing the Australian public... I know I keep saying this but I've always said there's only one thing that unites a nation and in sport that's football in Australia and the Socceroos," Arnold said.

"You don't, not being negative here, but the Rugby League World Cup was just on, was Federation Square like that? Were the pubs like that? Exactly. And they don't play AFL anywhere else in the world except for Australia. So it just shows you how big football can be.

"Because we're over here and we're in a fantastic facility where we don't get out and see the public or anything, just to see those videos and see those reactions is massive for us because it just shows the boys how much support they've got back at home."

Of course, for all the significant goodwill that has converged upon the Socceroos across the past 10 days from both supporters at home and neutrals around the world attracted to the hard-working, greater-than-the-sum-of-their-parts, underdog nature of the team, an almost insurmountable challenge awaits on Saturday.

After being stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the tournament, Argentina has found form with wins over Mexico and Poland and are beginning to once again shape as the potential winners they were widely tipped as heading into the tournament.

In perhaps his final opportunity to lift the World Cup and cement his legacy as the game's greatest, Messi has been at the core of his; the little master of Rosario able to find spaces, passes, and shots that no one else can.

"Get in their faces, don't give them time," Arnold said on how you stop this. "What we did last [against Denmark] well, they had more possession and yes, they were just smashing long balls but the main thing was to stop Erickson from getting on the ball.

"Stopping their main players from getting on the ball is going to be crucial.

"The thing is, that if you focus too much on Messi, then you're forgetting about the other players.

"And if you watch the game [on Tuesday], I think Poland focused too much on Messi. The nearest player? Pick him up. It can't be just one, it can be five.

"But it's not just about stopping him. They've also got some very good players as well."

"I don't think anyone expected us to even win a game here. To win two in one World Cup was amazing.

"You don't get these opportunities often in life. So what are you gonna do about it? Are you just going to let it ride or are you going to do something more? Something special?

"When you go home, you've got time to rest, you've got time to think about things.

"But this is now, this is real. And let's give it our best shot."