Lionel Messi was named as the Player of the Match as he scored for Argentina in their 2-1 win vs. Australia and spoke to the media.

Messi scored the first goal of the match and could have had a few assists as he was named Player of the Match. Speaking to the media after the match, here is what he had to say:

“It was a controlled match. Putting aside the last one (save) by Dibu (Martínez), we didn’t suffer too much.

“It was a very physical match. Very happy for this win and to take another step.”

Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez scored for Argentina in their 2-1 win vs. Australia.

Argentina are in the quarter finals of the World Cup. It was a match in which Argentina didn’t create too many chances in the first half but still managed to score.

Messi took a free kick and in the play, the ball fell to Nicolás Otamendi who passed it to Lionel Messi as he scored to give Argentina the 1-0 lead. That was Messi’s first goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup.

The second half started with Argentina in control. Constant pressure by Julián Álvarez paid off.

Australia had the ball in their penalty area as both Álvarez and Rodrigo De Paul pressured the goalkeeper. Argentina would win the ball and Alvarez would score to double Argentina’s lead.

With the clean sheet intact, an effort on goal which was going high and wide by Australia took a deflection off Enzo Fernández and beat Emiliano Martínez. Australia started attacking and Argentina started to get more chances.

Lionel Messi played what was probably the best performance of anyone at this World Cup. A great run down the middle and another one which he passed it to Lautaro Martínez but Lautaro’s effort would go high and wide.

In what was one of the last attacks of the game, Australia had an effort on goal from inside the penalty area but Emiliano Martínez made the save and sent Argentina to the quarter finals of the World Cup.

Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Papu Gómez all start for Argentina vs. Australia in their Round of 16 match.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has announced his starting eleven and it’s Papu Gómez who starts in place of Angel Di Maria. Scaloni has not made any more changes to the team which won 2-0 vs. Poland. Here is the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Cristian Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Papu Gómez

Argentina national team Lionel Scaloni has most of his players set for the starting eleven against Australia in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

Lionel Scaloni is not expected to make many changes to the starting eleven for Saturday’s match. Per reports out of Argentina, it will be Rodrigo de Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister who will start, the same players which started in the 2-0 win vs. Poland.

Julián Álvarez will replace Lautaro Martínez, just as he did against Poland. It will be Lionel Messi and Álvarez up front and with no Ángel Di María, it will be one of Ángel Correa, Papu Gómez or Paulo Dybala replacing Di María in attack.

Nicolás Otamendi and Nahuel Molina will start. Per a report by ESPN, the coaching staff has not yet decided on Lisandro Martínez or Cristian Romero to start as they are worried about possible fatigue on Romero’s part. This would be the rumored eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Acuña, De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Ángel Correa or Papu Gómez or Paulo Dybala