In the spotlight: why Argentina urgently needs Ángel Di María in the round of 16 against Australia | football world cup

After 59 minutes, Ángel Di María had to leave the field last Wednesday. Then Argentina won 2-0 against Poland and Lionel Messi and associates qualified for the eighth finals of the World Cup in Qatar. Australia is the opponent tonight (8 p.m.). But can Di María participate? National coach Lionel Scaloni stated in the run-up to the duel with Australia that Di María’s substitution was only a precaution. “He had problems with his upper leg, nothing to worry about,” said the coach.

It is to be hoped for Argentina that it is indeed nothing serious, because it is precisely in the knockout phase of the World Cup that is possible La Albiceleste make good use of Di María’s experience.

2: Angel Di Maria (2) is the only player in the Argentina squad who ever scored in the knockout stages of the World Cup. The Juventus attacker made in that phase two goals: four years ago in the lost eighth final against France (4-3) and eight years ago in Brazil also in the eighth final against Switzerland (1-0). Di María then scored the winning goal in the 118th minute. Alone Diego Maradona (4), Guillermo Stable (3) and Carlos Peucelle (3) scored more goals in Di María’s knockout stage.

27: Can Angel Di María score again? Then he makes his 28th goal for Argentinae. He is currently seventh on the all-time top scorers list of the Argentina national football team with 27 goals and he certainly has not the least names above him: Lionel Messi (93), Gabriel Batista (56), Sergio Aguero (41), Hernan Crespo (35), Diego Maradona (34) and Gonzalo Higuain (31).

128: Ángel Di María will play (if he is fit enough) against Australia 128th international match for Argentina. Only Lionel Messi (168), Javier Mascherano (147) and Javier Zanetti (145) played more international matches.

The Netherlands kicks off the World Cup day at 4 p.m. with the first eighth final against United States. The Orange came first in a group with Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar, while the United States finished second behind England. The Americans were ahead of Wales and Iran.

Argentina recovered from the ignominious defeat against Saudi Arabia and still finished first in the group, ahead of Poland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Australia surprisingly came second in the group, behind France but ahead of Tunisia and Denmark.

4 p.m.: Netherlands v United States
8 p.m.: Argentina v Australia

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