Milos Degenek of Australia controls the ball in the FIFA World Cup Qatar game against Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar, November 30, 2022. (Photo: CFP）

Australia will play Argentina in the Round of 16 game in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on December 3. For the first time since 2006, the Socceroos will compete in the knockout stage at the tournament.

Australia's trip in Group D was not all sunshine and rainbows. They lost to France 4-1 in the first game and then defeated both Tunisia and Denmark 1-0 to make it out this group. Offense apparently is not their best weapon. Solid defense from good use of their big and strong bodies is what keeps Australia going forward.

Their defense will be tested by seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi and his gifted teammates of Argentina. Like Australia, Argentina lost their first game in Group C 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, but managed to top the group in the end by beating Mexico 2-0 and Poland 2-0.

Lionel Messi (#10) of Argentina controls the ball in the FIFA World Cup game against Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, November 30, 2022. (Photo: CFP)

Though Messi only scored two goals, one assist and missed a penalty kick against Poland, he is still a major threat to Australia's defense.

"I always loved Messi and I think he's the greatest to ever play the game. [But] it's not an honor to play against him because he's just a human, as we all are," defender Milos Degenek said. "It's an honor to be in the round of 16 of a World Cup. That's the honor in itself. Whether we played Argentina or we would have played against Poland, it still would have been an honor to represent Australia in the round of 16 of a World Cup."

Mathew Leckie (L) of Australia shoots to score in the FIFA World Cup Qatar game against Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar, November 30, 2022. (Photo: CFP)

"It's a 90-minute game, maybe 120. And it's a knockout game. Because no one expects us to be here, we [can] throw everything at them and there's no pressure for us," said Mathew Leckie, who scored for Australia to beat Denmark. "It's gonna be a difficult game, playing against probably the best footballer ever to grace the game. [But] it's 11 against 11. There's not 11 Messis, there's one."

The last time Australia made the knockout stage in the World Cup was in Germany in 2006, they almost kept the later-champions Italy scoreless during regular time. Fabio Grosso earned Italy a penalty kick during stoppage time before Francesco Totti made it, to send their team to the quarterfinals.